The Fulton County Jail, which on Monday reported its first case of COVID-19, continues identifying inmates for early release, a spokeswoman said.

So far 30 people have been freed from custody in Fulton. Hall County has been even more aggressive, releasing 200 inmates.

“These were inmates with release dates whose files were evaluated by jail staff to determine whether the defendants were eligible to get out of jail early,” said Fulton Sheriff’s spokeswoman Tracy Flanagan. “This is a measure to mitigate jail overcrowding during the pandemic.”

On Monday, a man in his 30s, who was undergoing treatment for a chronic illness, tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, Flanagan said.

“Jail staff are retracing his movements to find persons who came in contact with the patient prior to the diagnosis to include his roommate who is in isolation,” Flanagan said.

Other inmates in the area have shown no signs of the virus and are being kept on lockdown “for their safety,” she said.

Hall County has yet to record any positive tests for COVID-19. The jail “is a focal point for sheriff’s office coronavirus precautions because of the number of individuals housed in close quarters,” said spokesman Derreck Booth.

Those released were nonviolent, misdemeanor offenders and inmates above the age of 60 who don’t pose a risk to the community, Booth said.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres