Sheriff tests Positive for Coronavirus

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson has stepped forward confirming that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has spoken out on his plans, recovery, and the Courthouse response.

With some staff in the office allegedly sick as well, Nicholson said he started paying closer attention to his own health more than normal. He confirmed that he made it to the weekend of August 8 and 9. He said he began feeling sore and tired after a long week. Nicholson confirmed that the same weekend his wife began coughing. Nicholson’s wife also works at Gilmer’s Courthouse.

Both of them decided to go forward with testing on Tuesday, but still didn’t believe he had gotten the virus.

It wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that the Sheriff got a call saying that both he and his wife had tested positive for the Coronavirus. He said that only a total of seven staff members have contracted the virus as well. All of these seven current positive tests work in the detention center. The Sheriff’s Office has been stressing masks, sanitizing, cleanliness, and other guidelines for the safety of both staff and inmates. He did say that one staff member not in the detention center test positive back in the beginning of July. But continuing those guidelines he is very proud of the work and support the deputies and staff have given. Within the detention center, Nicholson said only three inmates have tested positive.

Continuing sanitizing surfaces and maintaining social distancing, Nicholson said that the measures have also extended to deputies inside the courthouse. He said that public safety officers have to work, but the moment you become symptomatic, you have to stay at home.

While the Sheriff has tested positive, he said he began staying away from people the moment he heard he had been around someone who later tested positive and constantly using the mask. On top of that, staying home after his own positive test. He did personally contact a few others he had been very close to after he realized his own positive test. It is an act that he said he has performed with many of those other positive tests in office.

According to county leaders, the courthouse will not close for another sanitizing session. With guidelines in place and a low lifespan on hard surfaces, the courthouse will move forward with their own sanitization guidelines in maintenance and employee workspaces. The Sheriff’s Office is still operating today as normal under virus guidelines.