The fifth inmate in an Alabama prison has died after testing positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Wednesday.
Allen Barton, 59, a terminally-ill man who was serving at Staton Correctional Facility tested positive for COVID-19 in the prison’s infirmary after exhibition symptoms of the virus, ADOC said in a statement. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment on June 18 and died there on Tuesday. Barton’s cause of death is pending an autopsy.
The infirmary at Staton prison remains on “medical isolation,” according to the department.
ADOC also announced an inmate at the Easterling Correctional Facility tested positive for coronavirus after showing symptoms and is being treated at a local hospital. The dorm in which the man lived is on level-one quarantine, meaning inmates remain in the infirmary, are monitored for symptoms and are to have temperature checks twice daily.
Another inmate at the Kilby Correctional Facility has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolated in the prison’s infirmary, which has been placed on level-one quarantine.
Thirty-four of the 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among inmates remain active, according to ADOC.
In addition to the new cases among inmates, ADOC announced one worker at the Easterling Correctional Facility and a worker at the North Alabama Community Based Facility and Community Work Center self-reported positive coronavirus test results and are self-quarantined.
Ninety-three of the 151 COVID-19 cases among prison staff remain active.
