Inmate From Somers Prison Dies of Coronavirus Complications

SOMERS, CT — A 45-year-old inmate who had been housed at the Osborn Correctional Institution until being transferred to an outside hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus in mid-October has died, according to Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) officials.

The man, who had been serving a three-year sentence after being convicted on burglary and strangulation charges, died Wednesday. Due to medical privacy laws, his name is not being released.

He last entered the Connecticut correctional system on Oct. 19, 2018, with a release date set for August 2021. He was not eligible for parole until next May, DOC officials said.

Nearly six months had passed since the last convicted offender died from complications due to coronavirus on May 26.

In a written statement, DOC Commissioner Designate Angel Quiros said, "This is a sobering reminder that we cannot let our guard down when it comes to the coronavirus. We will continue to take the necessary precautions to limit its spread within our facilities. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones."

A third round of mass testing of Connecticut's prison population, totaling nearly 9,300 inmates, yielded 20 with symptoms associated with the coronavirus, or just under 1 percent.

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