ALCONA — Alcona County Sheriff Scott Stephenson on Wednesday notified the county Board of Commissioners an employee came to work sick last week and may have exposed staff to “whatever he had.”

Stephenson refused to provide any further information about the employee “out of concern for his privacy.”

Stephenson did not say whether the employee was tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. However, he indicated some kind of test results may be pending.

“I won’t be able to disclose the results of any testing to anybody,” he said. “I’m not even sure I’m going to be able to get those (results), but the Health Department takes care of contacting anybody that he would have had contact with or may have infected, if in fact he comes back positive.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties.

Stephenson told commissioners changes have been made at the department. Clerical staff duties have been reduced to “essential services,” jail staff has been reduced, and the department no longer allows visitors or clergy members at the jail. The jail’s work-release program has also been stopped.

“We currently have no sick inmates,” he said. “Nobody else has gotten sick since last week.”

In the meantime, Stephenson said deputies are still patrolling the roads and taking complaints.

He said some complaints may be handled with a phone call instead of in person.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.