RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina prison officials say COVID-19 was the cause or at least a contributing factor in the death of an inmate at Franklin Correctional Center.
The inmate was a man in his early 60s. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 7 and was hospitalized 10 days later. His condition worsened and he died Friday, officials said in a news release Saturday.
Final determination of his cause of death will be made following review by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The Department of Public Safety said it will not identify the inmate, citing his family’s right to privacy and the confidentiality of prison offender records.
“We are working hard in our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offenders is our top priority,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons.
“They all should choose to be vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available. It’s very important.”
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