SAN QUENTIN, Calif. — A veteran guard at San Quentin State Prison has died as a result of the coronavirus.
It's the first COVID-19 death of an employee at the California lockup where a large outbreak has infected staff and inmates. Sgt. Gilbert Polanco, an Army veteran and guard at San Quentin since 1988, died after being hospitalized for more than a month. Of more than 260 staff members infected by the virus at San Quentin, Polanco is the first to die.
At least two dozen inmates at the prison near San Francisco have died from COVID-19 complications, including Pedro Arias, 58, a convicted murderer who was sentenced to death. Arias had been on death row since March 5, 1990.
According to the Associated Press, by the start of August, there have been more than 7,500 cases among inmates, including nearly 2,000 that are considered active.
CORONAVIRUS CONTEXT
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine. The CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
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