Inmate who ‘recovered’ from coronavirus dies in California prison, officials say
An inmate tested positive for COVID-19 at a federal prison on Terminal Island in San Pedro, California, on April 16, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Adrian Solarzano was deemed ‘recovered’ on May 10, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
He died two weeks later, a news release from BOP said.
Solarzano, 54, was serving a 24-year sentence for racketeering and drug charges at the Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island, according to BOP. Over 70% of Terminal Island’s prison population has tested positive for COVID-19, KNX Radio reported.
After testing positive in April, Solarzano was placed in isolation until he stopped showing symptoms less than a month later, according to BOP. In accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bureau deemed Solarzano ”recovered,” the release said.
Solarzano, who had pre-existing medical conditions, was hospitalized on May 15 after he complained of chest pains and anxiety, according to BOP. He was tested for COVID-19 that day and the next, but both tests were negative, the LA Times reported.
Despite testing negative, Solarzano died at the hospital on May 24, according to BOP. He is the ninth inmate infected with COVID-19 to die at the federal prison, the Times reported.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of prisoners at Terminal Island and Lompoc, where a combined total of 1,800 inmates have tested positive for the virus, according to KNX and the Times. The suit claims the prisons mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at both facilities, the Times reported.
