CENTREVILLE – The St. Joseph County Jail has procedures in place in the event the coronavirus is detected.

During this week's County Commission meeting, Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the jail population is at 93 and they are trying to keep that number down as low as possible. Before anyone can be accepted as an inmate, they must go through an examination and if they have a fever, they must go for medical treatment before being incarcerated at the jail).

Lillywhite says he put out a directive to his department and other law enforcement agencies in the county. He said they would not accept any bench warrants unless they are crimes against persons or a felony or a drug or alcohol related arrest. They would also accept probable cause arrests).

The sheriff says they have also closed down the lobby to the public. There is a call box outside of the building which citizens can use. Lillywhite says this will limit the number of people inside the lobby until at least April 13.

Road officers are trying to only respond to emergency situations only. If you have a non emergency, you can call St. Joseph County Central Dispatch, and a deputy will call you back and try to help you over the phone, or determine if an officer needs to come to the caller in person.