Third Deer Ridge inmate dies after testing positive for COVID-19

(Update: DOC says the prisoner of the two rivers in the 30th position with COVID-19)

The outbreak in the prison near Madras has eased, with 23 active cases

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A detainee at the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution near Madras, who tested positive for COVID-19, died Saturday in a hospital, the Oregon Department of Corrections reported.

The adult in custody (AIC) was between 55 and 65 years old, the agency said in a news release. As with other COVID-19 deaths, the DOC did not disclose additional details.

As with all deaths in custody, Oregon police have been notified and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

He was the 29th prisoner to die and tested positive for COVID-19.

Later Saturday, the agency said a prisoner at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla died Saturday at a local hospital. The man, 75 to 85 years old, was the 30th inmate in the prison to test positive for COVID-19.

Visit DOC’s COVID-19 website for more information on COVID-19 cases in Oregon’s prisons. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state.

According to the COVID-19 tracker of the Department of Corrections, there are currently 23 active COVID-19 cases among inmates at Deer Ridge, down from more than 100 reported during an outbreak last month. The number of self-reported personnel cases has grown to 43.

The facility has so far had 243 positive COVID-19 cases and 1,472 negative test results. Like most prisons in the state, Deer Ridge is in Tier 4, with the entire institution in quarantine.

Overall, 544 active COVID-19 cases were reported at state prisons, with a total of 2,994 positive tests, 2,353 inmates, and 14,800 negative test results. Seventy prisoners who tested positive were released.

A total of 744 state prison staff reported positive COVID-19 test results, and 567 recovered.

Anyone entering DOC property must wear a mask or face mask in any indoor work environment or other indoor premises, regardless of the distance from others, unless they are in a private office not shared by anyone else; whether they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet distance between other people can be maintained. Masks are mandatory at all times in many work areas.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect several times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID to medical personnel.

Posters are in all DOC settings that encourage people to maintain proper hygiene and to maintain appropriate social distance as far as possible.

Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This selection includes a temperature control and a selection questionnaire. Visits remain closed until further notice.

DOC began administering COVID-19 vaccinations – which are eventually offered to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees and adults in custody.

Vaccination prioritization is determined by guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Governors’ Office.

Before the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a news release when an AIC passed away. This notice will include the person’s name, country of conviction, sentence length and date of death.

However, no cause of death would be listed because the medical examiner determined it.

“To balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we changed the AIC obituary process when someone died who tested positive for COVID-19,” the agency said. “DOC is working with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.”