Topics Related to COVID-19

A Pender Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.“His death is saddening, and we are working hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offender population is our top priority.”The offender tested positive for the virus when he was hospitalized on Sept. 22. His conditioned worsened and he died on Oct. 1.

A Harnett Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.“His death is saddening, and we continue to work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody continues to be our top priority.”The offender tested positive for the virus when he was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 7. His condition worsened and he died on Sept. 26 around 3:40 p.m.

A Scotland 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 are continuing to work hard to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody is our top priority.”The offender tested positive for the virus on Aug. 27. He was hospitalized on Sept. 1. His conditioned worsened and he died on Sept. 25 around 1:40 a.m.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice will resume limited visitation at all the state’s prisons and in its juvenile justice facilities effective Oct. 1 with significant restrictions due to the pandemic.

Visitation was suspended in all ACJJ facilities statewide on March 16.

An offender housed at Scotland Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.“His death is sad and tragic, and we are continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new, expedited reimbursement program that aims to expand non-congregate sheltering options in communities across the state.

An offender housed at Caldwell Correctional Center who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.“His death is saddening, and we are continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”

State prison officials have completed COVID-19 tests of all offenders in state prisons and the results show 2.1 percent were positive for the virus in a six-week mass testing operation.

Of the 29,062 offenders who were tested during mass testing, a total of 619 tested positive. This positivity percentage of 2.1 percent is much lower than in prison systems in other states.

An offender who tested positive for COVID-19 at Lumberton Correctional Institution has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by the virus. This is the ninth coronavirus death of an individual in custody at a North Carolina state prison. “His death is a sad event, and we are continuing to work hard to limit the spread as much as possible and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody is priority one.”

An offender housed at Albemarle Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.

This is the eighth coronavirus death of an individual in custody at a North Carolina state prison.

"His death is a tragedy, and we are working hard to manage the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”