Death in jail unrelated to COVID

Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Heath Jackson said the death of an inmate in the detention center on July 23 was not related to COVID-19 but did confirm 10 to 13 inmates in the Brewton facility had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Jackson said jail staff was conducting a cell check on July 23 when they found the unresponsive inmate.

“The inmate was pronounced deceased at the scene from what appeared to be natural causes,” Jackson said.

Jackson also said as normal protocol for all in-custody deaths, Alabama Law Enforcement Agents with the State Bureau of Investigations are conducting the investigation.

Jackson said the 10 to 13 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 were isolated and quarantined and were not returned to normal population until they tested negative.

He also said the jail is throughly cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis.

Statistics released Tuesday by the Escambia County (Ala.) Health Department show the county has 841 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 confirmed deaths. The report also states 4,836 tests have been administered.

Statewide there have been 79,129 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1,446 deaths.