A man who was an inmate at the D.C. jail has died of coronavirus, in the first death from the virus at the facility.
Deon Crowell was 51. He was diagnosed with the virus on Tuesday and “placed in isolation, where he was monitored by medical staff,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement. He was hospitalized the same day and died Monday morning.
Crowell's family was notified, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at her press briefing Monday morning.
“We send them our deep condolences,” she said.
Crowell had been held at the jail for more than a year-and-a-half, since June 29, 2018, the DOC said.
More than 40 inmates have tested positive with the virus. Some filed a class action lawsuit seeking early release and enhanced cleaning of the facility.
Over the weekend, a judge ordered independent inspectors to visit the jail and evaluate safety and sanitation procedures, including whether inmates are each given a bar of soap per week.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Thirty-six inmates were eligible to be released early from the jail as of Friday, after the mayor granted them additional “good time” credits. The inmates all had misdemeanor convictions.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
