Man Becomes 1st Oregon Inmate To Die With COVID-19 – OPB News

UPDATE (4:34 p.m. PT) An inmate at the Oregon State Penitentiary who tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday evening, according to the Department ofCorrections.

Its the first COVID-19 related death connected to the states prisonsystem.

The unidentified inmate was between 50 and 60 years old and one of three with the disease who have been hospitalized, DOC said in a statement. Next of kin have been notified. Two other inmates remainhospitalized.

The Oregon State Police will investigate the death and the state medical examiner will determine thecause.

Inmates are at greater risk for contracting the disease because its difficult to create enough social distance in prisons, jails and detention centers to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some of the largest outbreaks in the country have been in correctionalinstitutions.

As of Thursday, Oregon DOC said there were 148 inmates who have tested positive for the disease, as well as38 employees. The agency houses more than 14,000 inmates across 14institutions.

Last month, Gov. Kate Brown said she wouldnt release inmates in large groups over risks surrounding the disease. Rather, she said, she would evaluate early releases on acase-by-casebasis.

The death comes as the DOC and Brown are being sued for their response to the pandemic inside the states prisons. Inmates in several institutions allege not enough has been done to slow thedisease.

Among other things, the suit asks a judge to mandate a social distance of 6 feet or more between inmates in all of the DOCs facilities. If that cant be accomplished, the lawsuits ask that a three-judge panel review cases and reduce the number of prisoners inOregon prisons so itispossible.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center, which is suing the DOC and Brown, said the death underscores the risks COVID-19 poses to staff andinmates.

There is an urgent and clear need for a comprehensive program of prevention, testing, and care to be implemented throughout Oregons prisons, OJRCs Juan Chavez said in a statement. Governor Brown must no longer ignore the reality that prisons are not built to withstand a global pandemic and act on the knowledge she has of the riskofharm that exists for all those who work and live in theprisons.

DOC has set up medical isolation units for patients with COVID-19 at the Coffee Creek Correctional Institution and the Snake River Correctional Institution, where theres 24/7nursingcare.

This week, DOC started antibody testing, but have not yet receivedresults.

Antibody testing will help us quantify the breadth and scope of COVID at our institutions with positive tests, DOC said in a statement. For example, we will offering antibody testing to all(inmates) at Shutter Creek. This will allow us to identify those now presumptivelyimmune.

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Man Becomes 1st Oregon Inmate To Die With COVID-19 - OPB News