SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas prisons and jails continue to be hotspots for the novel coronavirus. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of dozens of inmates and staff members at facilities across the state. The rampant spread has also led family members to push for the release of inmates from those confined spaces. Hays County is one area dealing with an outbreak in its already crowded jail. 

What You Need To Know


  • Dozens of jail and prison inmates and staff members have died in Texas

  • Hays County Jail dealing with COVID-19 outbreak 

  • Jail officials have put virus safeguards in place

  • Family of inmates calling for them to be released from the facility amid outbreak 

Officials at the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said since testing began, 115 inmates have volunteered to be tested. As of Wednesday morning, 51 tests came back negative, 40 tests came back positive, and 24 tests are still pending results. Thirty-six of those inmates who tested positive are still housed at the Hays County Jail, which has had problems with overcrowding over the past several years. 

Just days ago, Bridgette Alexis-Johnson found out her brother, Michael Alexis, contracted the virus while awaiting trial there. He is facing charges stemming from family violence. Alexis-Johnson said her brother has struggled with mental health. 

“COVID is around, you know that there are people that are being affected every day. You know that there are people that are dying every day, but I think when it hits that close to home, you know, it makes it a little more real for you, and it's terrifying,” Alexis-Johnson said. 

Alexis-Johnson said when she spoke to him on Tuesday his symptoms were fatigue and shortness of breath. She said she could tell he struggled to get words out.  

Michael Alexis, currently an inmate at Hays County Jail, appears with family in this undated image. (Courtesy: Bridgette Alexis-Johnson)

“You can't have people who are infected living with people who aren't infected and not mandate that they protect themselves in any way and expect that the numbers are not going to grow,” Alexis-Johnson said. 

Officials with the sheriff’s office weren't available to go on camera, but they tell Spectrum News there are taking steps aimed at limiting COVID-19 exposure. Those steps include: 

  • Random temperature checks are done daily, and if an inmate shows an elevated temperature or is exhibiting symptoms, he or she will be offered a test.
  • A cleaning cart is delivered daily to the inmates to clean the living quarters.
  • Twice a day, corrections officers enter the housing units and clean the common areas.
  • Once a week, all inmates are removed from their housing units and correction officers sterilize the entire unit, common areas and individual living areas.
  • All inmates are given masks upon arrival in the jail.  

Michael Alexis appears with his sister in this undated image. (Courtesy: Bridgette Alexis-Johnson)

Authorities said, however, if inmates refuse to take a mask or wear it, they cannot make them do so. 

“Why is it not mandated that they have to wear masks also, especially considering the fact that they're in such a confined space together? If I can distance myself from you and I still have to wear masks, they should be made to wear masks, they should not have an option. And it's for their own good and not just for, you know, themselves but also the staff members,” Alexis-Johnson said.

Michael Alexis, an inmate at Hays County Jail, appears in this undated image. (Courtesy: Bridgette Alexis-Johnson)

Another sister of Michael Alexis, Ramika Alexis-Adams, said a priority now is to try to reduce his bond. The sisters know for now the only way to release their brother is if they pay the $40,000, which they cannot afford. Alexis-Adams is a small business owner, and Alexis-Johnson is a single mother of two children. 

“At least reduce his bond so we can afford to get him out of jail. Give them an ankle bracelet or something monitoring, whatever the case may be,” Alexis-Adams said.

“Has my brother made mistakes? Absolutely. And do we do our best to hold him accountable, and you know, make him acknowledge those mistakes so he can grow from them? Yes,” Alexis-Johnson said.

Michael Alexis has been waiting for a trial since last August, and his sisters said that in America presumption of innocence is law. 

“They're not guilty yet. My brother hasn't been convicted of anything, ad even if he does, he's still a human being,” Alexis-Johnson said. 

Michael Alexis appears with his sister in this undated image. (Courtesy: Bridgette Alexis-Johnson)