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Alabama prisoner becomes 69th to die with COVID-19

Cleveland Thomas, 73, died on Dec. 2 and tested positive for COVID-19 during an autopsy.

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Cleveland Thomas, 73, on Dec. 2 became the 69th incarcerated person in Alabama to die having been positive for COVID-19. 

Thomas, who was being treated at the Hamilton Aged and Infirmed prison for multiple medical conditions, tested negative for COVID shortly before he died, but during an autopsy tested positive for the virus, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a press release. 

The department announced that a man serving at Donaldson Correctional Facility also tested positive for COVID, bringing the total number of cases among the incarcerated in Alabama to 2,209. A total of 12,090 incarcerated people statewide have been vaccinated against COVID by the department. 

Two prison workers also recently self-reported positive COVID test results. There have been 1,219 cases and three deaths among ADOC staff.

Eddie Burkhalter is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at eburkhalter@alreporter.com or reach him via Twitter.

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