Topics Related to COVID-19

A Central Prison offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.“We sympathize with the offender’s family, as losing a loved one is hard enough, but especially so during the holiday season,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “We continue working diligently to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons because the health and safety of the staff and the offender population continues to be our top priority.”

An Alexander Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died.“Losing a loved one during a holiday season is always difficult and we sympathize with the family,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “We continue working hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons because the health and safety of the staff and the offender population continues to be our top priority.”

An Anson Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died.“Her death is tragic. We are working hard to alleviate 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 COVID-19 and was hospitalized on Nov. 26. She died on Dec. 21.

A Greene Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died.“His death is saddening. 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.”

On Friday, Governor Roy Cooper, Secretary Mandy K. Cohen and Secretary Erik Hooks wrote a letter to local elected officials imploring them to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in their communities by considering additional enforcement measures.

“Now more than ever we need help with enforcement from our local partners to fight this raging pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “Taking steps now to protect our communities by enforcing safety precautions will help reduce transmission of the virus and save lives.”

Prisons’ leadership continues to consolidate some of its operations to help mitigate the surge of COVID-19 in North Carolina and its impact on the prison system.

This allows the temporary reassignment of staff to prisons in need of additional medical and security personnel to handle COVID outbreaks.

As a result, operations at the minimum custody camp at Marion Correctional in Marion were temporarily suspended on Dec. 9.

An Anson Correctional Institution offender who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at a hospital.“His death is saddening. We are working very 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.”He was hospitalized on Dec. 4 and tested positive for COVID-19 the next day, on Dec. 5. His condition worsened, and he died on Dec. 6.

A Nash Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.“His death is tragic. We are continuing to work 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 COVID-19 on Dec. 2. He was hospitalized on Dec. 3. His condition worsened, and he died on Dec. 6.

A Tabor Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.“His death is saddening. 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 was COVID tested while in the prison and hospitalized on Nov. 19. His COVID-positive test result was received the next day, Nov. 20. His condition worsened, and he died on Dec. 3.

Prisons’ leadership is consolidating some of its operations to help mitigate the surge of COVID-19 in North Carolina and its impact on the prison system.

This allows the temporary reassignment of staff to prisons in need of additional medical and security personnel to handle COVID outbreaks.

“I am grateful we have such a dedicated, hard-working staff who help out their colleagues as we continue to battle this first-in-a-century pandemic,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “They are heroes.”