Sheriff's deputy tests negative for virus

CLOVIS — A Curry County sheriff’s deputy — instructed to self-quarantine last Wednesday because of a possible COVID-19 exposure — has tested negative for the virus, county officials said.

The deputy, who was not identified, notified county officials last Wednesday of “a possible exposure a household member had to an individual who had tested positive for COVID-19,” according to Melissa Gunn, the county’s personnel coordinator.

County Manager Lance Pyle said Monday that the deputy received the negative test results on Sunday night and will be returning to a regular work schedule today.

Officials will not say if the deputy’s possible exposure is connected to a Clovis police virus scare that also came to light last Wednesday.

A small police flag ceremony was postponed because a “day shift officer family member” tested positive for COVID-19, according to Police Chief Doug Ford.

City Manager Justin Howalt said the officer was “immediately sent home and notified of the protocols which needed to be followed. This includes quarantine.”

Neither the county nor the city has had a confirmed COVID-19 case among its law officers, officials have said.

Howalt said the city offered testing to all city employees on Thursday, though it wasn’t clear how many participated or how many test results have been completed.

Howalt wrote in an email on Monday that “over 150 (city) employees have been tested for Covid-19 with zero positive tests reported.”

He did not respond to questions about pending tests or whether the day-shift officer whose family member tested positive had been cleared to return to work.