Third Mass. inmate with COVID-19 dies; stricter social distancing to be enforced at all facilities
The man was in his 60s and had prior health issues, officials said.
A third inmate with COVID-19 who was incarcerated at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater has died, and the state Department of Correction has tightened its cleaning and social distancing policies.The inmate, who was in his 60s and had prior health issues, had been incarcerated since last year, according to the department.“DOC was informed on Saturday morning that an inmate from the Massachusetts Treatment Center who was being treated for COVID-19 at a hospital died that morning,” the department said in a statement emailed to Boston.com. “The health of incarcerated individuals, staff, visitors and volunteers is of utmost importance to the department as we continue to expand health and safety measures at all facilities, including strictly limited movement within each facility, providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and frequently disinfecting high touch areas.”The inmate was quarantined when he began to show symptoms, and was then brought to the hospital, where he suffered with the virus over nine days, according to the department.
DOC announced its first inmate death on Thursday, with the second announced on Friday.
Aside from the three deaths, 24 inmates total, throughout the system, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to numbers provided by the department. Of those, 22 were housed at MTC, while the remaining two were at MCI-Shirley.
Fifteen staff have also tested positive for the virus: six at MTC, two at MCI-Framingham, two at the central office, and one each at MCI-Shirley, Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, North Central Correctional Institution, and Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit. Two medical staff, one each at MTC and MCI-Framingham, have also contracted the disease.
All 16 correctional facilities already had hand sanitizer for inmates and staff, and “high-touch areas” are also being cleaned regularly. Anyone looking to go into one of the facilities has to have their temperature taken, the department said in a news release.
On Saturday, DOC also began to enforce “limited movement” within the facilities. This includes all staff wearing personal protective equipment if they are to be within 6 feet of someone else, or in an area where inmates have become sick with the virus, according to the release.
Inmates are to receive meals and medicine in their units. They’ll still be able to clean their rooms, shower, and use the phone, as well as meet with their attorneys. Mail, laundry, and essential services will continue as usual as well, the release said.
The department noted that these extra measures were already in place at MTC and MCI-Shirley, but will now extend to the remaining 14 facilities.
“The Department remains focused on maintaining the safety and security of the inmate population, the staff, and the public above all else,” the department said.
<hr>
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com