Seventh Elkton Inmate Dies from COVID-19
LISBON, OHIO — A seventh inmate from the Federal Correction Institution in Elkton has died from COVID-19, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP).
Inmate Richard Nesby, 55, had reported April 4 to the prison’s Heath Services Department, where he was evaluated and treated for low oxygen saturation. A chest X-ray showed he had pneumonia, and Nesby was transported to a local hospital, where he also tested positive for COVID-19, according to a release from the FBOP.
He was placed on a ventilator but died Sunday, it was reported. Nesby had long-term pre-existing medical conditions, the FBOP noted.
Nesby was sentenced on the Northern District of Ohio to 65 months for felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He had been in custody at FCI Elkton since October 2019.
The FBOP’s latest report, updated at 3 p.m. Sunday, showed 51 Elkton inmates and 48 staff members testing positive with COVID-19 and six deaths.
In a report Monday morning, Joseph Mayle, president for the Elkton facility’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Union, listed the seventh death as well as 23 inmate hospitalizations, with eight on ventilators; 88 in quarantine; 32 in isolation; and 49 staff members testing positive.
Columbiana County Health District also reported another death from the virus as of Monday, bringing the total to 20 for county residents. Of those, seven were residents of long-term care facilities and six inmates of FCI Elkton, with the latest inmate death apparently not yet included in that total.
The latest death was that of an 86-year-old female with underlying health conditions, according to county officials, who reported positive cases in county residents range from 19 to 94 years of age.
The county reported an additional three positive cases Monday, bringing the total to 226 positive cases of COVID-19 among county residents, with 23 in long-term care and 62 at the federal prison in Elkton.
There are three probable positive cases and two probable deaths still pending among results.
Laura Fauss, public information officers for the county health district, was asked if any information has been compiled regarding those county residents who have recovered from COVID-19.
Saying there are currently no accurate numbers on recoveries, Fauss said, “We know residents are getting better from their COVID-19 infections, but quantifying this number is difficult because the mode of recovery varies. Some still suffer from a variety of symptoms not included in the (Center for Disease Control) recovery guidance. Some have followup lab testing that shows they still have the virus but no symptoms.”
The numbers provided by the county are drawn from the Ohio Disease Reporting System at 8 a.m. daily and may not be reflected in totals released by the Ohio Department of Health and Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
