ONTARIO, Ore. — A man incarcerated in an Oregon prison died Monday after testing positive for COVID-19, officials said.
The Oregon Department of Corrections said Tuesday that the man between 80 and 85 years old died at a hospital. He had been incarcerated at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, officials said.
As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death, officials said.
The man is the seventh inmate to die after testing positive for the disease, according to officials. Since the pandemic began, the Department of Corrections has stopped releasing the names of those in custody who die in connection with the coronavirus. Previously, officials released the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death.
Officials said they changed the notification process in order to balance the desire for transparency with their legal obligation to protect personal health information.
Corrections facilities staff continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day, officials said. People imprisoned are asked to report any symptoms they are having and are encouraged to practice social distancing, along with other measures. Visiting remains closed until further notice.
