Deer Ridge inmate with COVID-19 dies at hospital amid growing outbreak
(Update: DOC reports inmate death; case count rises to 93, 21 staff)
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Deer Ridge Correctional Institution inmate who tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday at an area hospital, amid an outbreak of the virus at the state prison that has now risen to 86 active cases among inmates, the Oregon Department of Correction said Thursday.
The man, between 75 and 85 years old, is the 19th state prison inmate to die who tested positive for the coronavirus and the first from Deer Ridge, the department said. The agency did not release more details about the inmate, citing protected health information, as it has with previous deaths.
As with all in-custody deaths, Oregon State Police were notified, and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death, the department said.
The 93 active cases at Deer Ridge as of Thursday is up from 61 reported earlier in the week. Also, at least 21 Deer Ridge staff members have also tested positive for the virus, according to the COVID-19 list on the department’s website.
DOC Communications Manager Betty Bernt told NewsChannel 21 it’s not possible for the agency to know how many employees have been tested and/or confirmed positive for COVID-19, “as that information is not always shared with the agency and is protected health information.”
Instead, she said, “DOC reports the self-disclosed confirmed employee cases of COVID-19 on the DOC Website’s tracking page."
The recent spike in cases at Deer Ridge – preceded by just nine inmate cases over previous months – is by far the largest currently at state prisons. The only other facility in the state with more than a few cases is Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, with 26 cases.
Bernt said the rising case numbers reflect what has been seen statewide.
She told NewsChannel 21 by email the agency has taken numerous steps to prevent and control the spread of COVID 19, from education and tracking to sanitation, testing, social distancing and isolation/quarantine.
“While DOC has not made drastic changes solely because of the recent outbreaks, there have been updates to the protocols based on information developed from the outbreaks. (e.g. expanded masking, additional isolation and quarantining, deployment of mass testing and rapid testing, expanded vulnerable list),” Bernt said.
The Deer Ridge outbreak has been part of a recent surge that has pushed Jefferson County over the 1,000 mark in overall COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Of the 44 cases in the county confirmed on Monday, 38 were associated with Deer Ridge and the rest were community spread.
Here's more information provided Thursday by the agency, which is responsible for the care and custody of 13,100 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state.
Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises, regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.
Wearing masks is mandatory at all times in health services areas, some work areas, and in food services areas.
Face coverings have been provided to AICs (adults in custody) and staff. If an AIC becomes ill and exhibits flu-like symptoms, CDC and OHA guidance for supportive care are followed.
Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible.
Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination.
In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we (DOC) have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19.
DOC is working with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.
