Jesse Paul
The Colorado Sun
Four Colorado prison inmates have died since Wednesday after apparently contracting COVID-19, bringing the total number of prisoners in the state whose deaths have been linked to the coronavirus to 24.
The new fatalities come even as active coronavirus cases in Colorado Department of Corrections facilities are decreasing after a spike that matched the worst period of COVID-19 in the state.
The new deaths linked to the disease include:
A 62-year-old inmate who was being housed at the Bent County Correctional Facility. The prisoner died Wednesday at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs where they were taken on Dec. 6 with COVID-19 symptoms.
According to the Department of Corrections, 1,558 inmates and 207 staff members have active COVID-19 cases. Author: Makayla Richards Updated: 8:03 PM CST December 1, 2020
COLORADO, USA There are 1,558 inmates and 207 staff members with COVID-19 in Colorado s jails and prisons as of Tuesday and four inmates have died from the disease within the last week, according to a release from the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC).
This brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths among Colorado s inmate population to 11, the DOC said.
The inmates who died this week, according to the DOC are:
A 62-year-old man who was at the Fremont Correctional Facility
A 64-year-old who was at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility
At 84 years old, Anthony Martinez is nearly blind and deaf. He can no longer walk on his own and his kidneys are failing. He struggles to write his own name, his niece says, a sign of brain deterioration after more than 30 years in prison.
And though he seemingly poses little threat to anyone, he remains confined at Sterling Correctional Facility, among those at highest risk of falling victim to COVID-19, which has sickened hundreds of his fellow inmates and killing six at the northeast Colorado prison.
“I’m afraid the first time I see my uncle is going to be at his funeral,” said his niece, Kelly Brasier, who has been working to secure his early release.
Inmates, relatives call coronavirus is a death sentence, urge more early releases gazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
At 84 years old, Anthony Martinez is nearly blind and deaf. He can no longer walk on his own and his kidneys are failing. He struggles to write his own name, his niece says, a sign of brain deterioration after more than 30 years in prison.
And though he seemingly poses little threat to anyone, he remains confined at Sterling Correctional Facility, among those at highest risk of falling victim to COVID-19, which has sickened hundreds of his fellow inmates and killing six at the northeast Colorado prison.
“I’m afraid the first time I see my uncle is going to be at his funeral,” said his niece, Kelly Brasier, who has been working to secure his early release.