Officials in Mercer County have confirmed that 40 to 50 inmates at the Mercey County Jail will be released to make more room for medical isolation cells amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercer County District Attorney, Peter Acker, said all inmates that will be released are non-violent and have been given screening measures for COVID-19.

Acker said the jail has a total capacity of 311 inmates, and as of Friday was holding 308.

The jail normally has only one medical isolation cell, and with the release of these inmates, the jail will now have 30 medical isolation cells.

Inmates will be processed and released from the jail throughout Wednesday.

Acker said he personally screened which inmates will be released based on prior criminal history, and criminals that were close to being paroled.

Inmates will be released under a zero-tolerance policy since the release falls under special circumstances.

Acker stressed the inmates were being released to ensure any possible outbreak of COVID-19 in the jail could be contained.