DRAPER, Utah — Seven inmates at the Utah State Prison in Draper have died after contracting COVID-19.
The Utah Department of Corrections (DOC) announced Friday that two more inmates had died in the preceding days: a 68-year-old on Wednesday evening and a 70-year-old on Thursday morning.
Both had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and had been hospitalized for just under a week, receiving treatment at the Oquirrh 5 facility.
A previous death from earlier this month was also added to the count — a 61-year-old who "had a negative rapid COVID-19 test hours before being found deceased." However, DOC officials say the virus was detected in the inmate post-death.
For these deaths, as well as the four others previously reported, the DOC says the medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death. An update
Most of the inmates reported dead after contracting the virus also had comorbidities, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as "underlying medical conditions" that put the individual "at increased risk for severe illness" due to the virus.
Related stories:
- 3rd Utah State Prison inmate dies after contracting COVID-19
- Utah State Prison under code-red lockdown due to potential COVID-19 outbreak
- Utah leaders react to COVID-19 outbreak in prison system
- Utah State Prison sees COVID-19 outbreak among inmates
Click here for details on outbreaks, case counts and mitigation efforts in the prison system.