Bexar County jail inmates to receive new mask every day, officials say

SAN ANTONIO – Inmates at the Bexar County Jail will now be changing masks daily, officials said.

The KSAT 12 Defenders have been following this story and found jail inmates had to wear tattered masks for several days due to equipment shortages. But a new shipment of masks recently arrived, and another is expected this week, officials said.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said inmates will not only receive a new mask every day but also soiled or damaged masks will be replaced.

BCSO said it also has about 26,000 N-95 masks on hand for deputies.

COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March. The first case confirmed in the U.S. was in mid-January and the first case confirmed in San Antonio was in mid-February.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT:

• Everything we know about the coronavirus cases in Bexar, surrounding counties
• Here’s what you need to know about the mandatory face-covering rules in San Antonio, Bexar County
• Gov. Abbott: Texas classrooms closed for rest of school year; economy to reopen in waves using ‘data and doctors’
• Track coronavirus cases by ZIP, age in San Antonio with interactive map
• Map: Track COVID-19 cases in Texas, county-by-county updates
• SAQ: Your coronavirus questions answered
• A guide to unemployment benefits for Texans laid off during coronavirus pandemic
• Map: Where San Antonio-area students can find free school meals during closures
• 8 ways to help your fellow San Antonians during coronavirus pandemic
• ’SA Food 2 Go:’ Search nearby restaurants offering to-go, delivery around San Antonio
• Resources from World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, City of San Antonio