Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A third inmate has died at Albemarle Correctional Institution — the second this week — from complications of COVID-19.

The N.C. Department of Public Safety issued a press release late Friday night saying an offender died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19. This is the eighth coronavirus death of an individual in custody at a North Carolina state prison.

“His death is a tragedy, and we are working hard to manage the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”

The offender tested positive when he was hospitalized July 2. His condition worsened, and the offender died at the hospital Friday.

The offender was a male in his early 70s who had underlying health conditions. Given his family’s right to privacy and the confidentiality of prison offender records, the Department of Public Safety will not further identify the individual.

The first offender to die in a week’s time tested positive on June 22, and was hospitalized on July 1, where his conditions worsened. The inmate was a male in his early 60s who had underlying health conditions. He died Thursday.

These two deaths follow the July 14 death of another inmate, who was in his late 50s.