First inmate from Lexington federal prison dies of COVID-19. 22 new cases in the city.
An inmate at the Federal Medical Center died Monday from COVID-19, according to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, becoming the first inmate at the federal prison to die of the disease and the 10th coronavirus-related death in Lexington.
Juan Mata, 59, tested positive for the virus on April 30. He was admitted to the intensive care unit at a hospital the next Tuesday with hypoxemia, or a low amount of oxygen in the blood. His conditioned steadily worsened and he was pronounced dead Monday, according to a news release issued by the prison.
Mata, who had pre-existing medical conditions, was serving a 135-month sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500g or more of cocaine.
The health department announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 in Lexington Monday, bringing the city’s total to 411. At least 14 of the new cases involved inmates from the federal prison on Leestown Road. A total of 142 inmates and six staff members at the prison have been infected with the virus, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Federal Medical Center holds 1,248 inmates in five buildings, with 208 more inmates housed at an adjoining minimum-security camp. About 480 prison employees have contact with inmates.
The outbreak at the federal prison has spread quickly, leaving inmates and their family members concerned that testing has been limited to people who present symptoms, such as fever and cough. Local health officials said Friday that the prison has agreed to test all of its employees.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Lexington had dwindled to a handful or less each day before the prison began reporting large numbers of infected inmates.
As of Saturday, Lexington had the 24th highest number of cases per capita in Kentucky. Unlike many other places in the state, Lexington’s nursing homes have largely avoided COVID-19 so far.
As of May 9, Lexington had seen only three cases connected to nursing homes. All three individuals have recovered.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 4:05 PM.
