Allegheny County jail inmate who tested positive for covid-19 dies

A Covid-19 positive inmate in Allegheny County Jail died on Sunday, Director Orlando Harper said.

This is the first covid-related death for the facility.

The detainee’s name was not disclosed, but it was a 48-year-old man who had been hospitalized since the end of August. He died Sunday at a local hospital.

He was not vaccinated against covid-19 and had additional medical risk factors, according to a press release.

In a statement, Harper said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss and expressed his deepest condolences to the inmate’s family and friends.

“Our hearts are with them during this difficult time,” Harper said. “This pandemic has had a severe and devastating impact on all of our lives, and that includes those we care for in this facility and those providing care. “

The death brings the total number of covid-19 deaths in Allegheny County to 2,095 since March 2020.

In Pennsylvania, 147 inmates died from covid-19 and 141 were in state correctional facilities.

Inmates at Allegheny County Jail are not required to be vaccinated, but they can receive the vaccination while incarcerated, the county said.

The prison population of 1699 has a 51% vaccination rate among inmates.

A total of 1,400 inmates have been vaccinated and 815 inmates in the current prison population are fully vaccinated, of which 52 are partially vaccinated.

“For over a year and a half, we have all worked under difficult and demanding circumstances to continue to meet the challenges of covid and have succeeded with no loss of life so far,” said Harper.