The Butler County Prison is in a 10-day lockdown because six inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

The 10-day lockdown began Monday when the number of inmates that tested positive exceeded four, which triggers a lockdown, Warden Joe Demore told the county prison board Tuesday.

Inmates with cases of COVID are moved to the medical area and kept there 10 days.

Five of the six inmates were vaccinated, and they were being held in four different units in the prison, Demore said.

In addition to the inmates, 15 employees are off work with cases of COVID, he said.

During the lockdown, inmates can have visits only by video conference, and they are allowed out of their cells for one hour a day, he said.

The prison does not require employees to be vaccinated, but they can be vaccinated at the prison, Demore said.

He said 350, or 75%, of the inmates are vaccinated. There were 412 inmates as of Jan. 11. Inmates are tested if they or their cellmates have symptoms.

About 75 of the 109 employees are vaccinated. Employees who test positive are off work for seven to 14 days, depending on when they become symptom free, he said.

To date, 66 employees and 24 inmates have tested positive, Demore said.

In unrelated business, Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the county commissioners, replaced Richard Goldinger, district attorney, as prison board vice chairman.

The change was made during the board reorganization after all three commissioners, who are members of the board, said better communication with the commissioners is needed, and a commissioner should be a board officer.

“I think there are some communication challenges,” Osche said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel said there have been human relation and other matters that the commissioners should have known about.

Sheriff Mike Slupe, who was reelected board chairman, said communication with the commissioners is good.

Osche said the commissioners are ultimately responsible for the financial ramifications and any liability that results from actions taken, and the commissioners have to be informed.

“We take the fall when something goes sideways,” she said.