Massachusetts DOC inmate dies of COVID-19, 24 confirmed inmate cases; several staff also tests positive

An inmate at a Massachusetts facility in Bridgewater has succumbed to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The Massachusetts Department of Corrections issued the following statement.

“DOC was informed on 4/2/20 that an inmate from the Massachusetts Treatment Center who was being treated for COVID-19 at a hospital died. The health of incarcerated individuals, staff, visitors and volunteers is of utmost importance to the department as we continue to take unprecedented steps to prevent COVID-19 introduction and transmission. DOC leadership, staff, and our contracted medical provider, Wellpath, are focused on reducing, to the greatest degree possible, the potential impact of this virus on our approximately 8,000 inmates.”

According to DOC, even though CORI is lifted upon death, due to HIPAA regulations, the inmate cannot be identified by the DOC.

The inmate was in his 50’s, who had underlying health conditions and had been incarcerated with the DOC since 1993 and at MTC since 2018, according to a spokesperson. The inmate’s next of kin has been notified.

A spokesperson for the DOC stated that the inmate was immediately quarantined upon becoming symptomatic and when his condition required hospital level of care, he was transferred to the hospital. There, he was tested and was confirmed positive for COVID-19. He remained at the hospital for medical treatment when his condition declined over a 10 day period.

According to statistics provided by the DOC, as of 4:00 p.m. yesterday, the number of confirmed inmate cases totaled 24 with 23 of those being at the Massachusetts Treatment Center and 1 located at MCI-Shirley.

8 DOC staff (3 at MTC, 1 at SBCC, 1 at MCI-Shirley, 2 Central Office, 1 at MCI-Framingham) have tested positive for COVID-19.

2 medical staff have also tested positive with 1 at MTC and 1 at MCI-Framingham having the coronavirus.