ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Monroe County Sheriff's Office gave an update on the COVID-19 outbreak at the Monroe County Jail. 

Sheriff Todd Baxter said as of Tuesday, 70 inmates and 26 jail deputies have tested positive for COVID-19.

Sheriff Baxter says his office is taking a proactive approach and will be testing all of the inmates. Jail staff that returns from their weekend break will be tested when they arrive. The inmates who have tested positive will be housed together for 21 days. Also, those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will also be quarantined as well.

The MCSO has contracted with medical providers to observe and treat inmates with underlying medical conditions who are at risk. Sheriff Baxter says the safety of the inmates is paramount.

"Situational awareness will allow us to do our job better, make better decisions. I've challenged my staff to lean forward, be aggressive, cordon this problem off and then let’s go at it and attack it and get it out of our jail," said Baxter. 

As of right now, the sheriff says he is not sure how COVID-19 got in the jail, but he does want to make life easier for those who have tested positive.

The jail will provide the inmates with two 15-minute free phone calls and a 30-minute video call each week, so they can speak to their loved ones.