Lumpkin Co. Deputy who contracted coronavirus may return next week

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said Thursday (April 9) the deputy who was confirmed with COVID-19 is doing fine and could be back to work as early as next week.

“He’s doing well,” Jarrard said. “He was first diagnosed with strep throat but he had a cough that wouldn’t go away so they tested him in March for coronavirus at his doctor’s office and it came back positive. He never had to go to the hospital.”

Jarrard added that the deputy is going through the virus protocol that requires a patient to be in isolated for three days after the cough and fever leaves.

He declined to provide the deputy’s name, age or gender due to the HIPPA Privacy Rule which establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and personal health information.