An inmate in Broward County has died after testing positive for coronavirus, the sheriff's office confirmed Wednesday.
In a news release, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said the elderly inmate died at Northwest Medical Center Tuesday afternoon. His identity and exact age weren't released.
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Broward County assistant public defender Gordon Weekes confirmed the inmate's death and said he had been a client of the public defender's office.
BSO officials said the inmate was arrested in mid-March and showed no signs of coronavirus. During a routine screening on March 31, the inmate refused a medical test and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
He tested positive for COVID-19 on April 1, officials said.
"Detectives said the inmate suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, and no foul play is suspected," the BSO said in a statement. "The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death pending an examination."
At a news conference Tuesday, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said five inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 at BSO detention facilities.
Tony said all new inmates are screened for COVID-19 before entering the general inmate population, and inmates are instructed on the need to wash their hands, refrain from touching their face and report symptoms immediately.
As of Tuesday, 36 BSO employees had tested positive for coronavirus and 300 were being monitored. The department reported its first death related to the virus last week, 39-year-old Deputy Shannon Bennett.
