A Pender Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.
“His death is tragic, and we continue working hard to mitigate the impact of this virus in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and offenders is our top priority.”
The offender tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 24 and was hospitalized on Sept. 29. His condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Oct. 19.
The offender was a male in his mid-50s who had underlying health conditions. Given his family’s right to privacy and the confidentiality of prison offender records, the Department of Public Safety will not further identify the individual.
Prisons leadership has taken more than four dozen actions throughout the North Carolina prison system to try to prevent transmission of the virus. They are found here: https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/adult-correction/prisons/prisons-info-covid-19.
# # #