AUSTIN, Texas — Two inmates and two employees in Texas have likely died from the coronavirus so far, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed April 22.
The inmates who died were identified as 68-year-old James Nealy and 84-year-old Willie Eanes. Nealy was serving a sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Eanes was serving time for murder.
On April, 21, the TDCJ confirmed that Amarillo correctional officer Keith Goodman, 52, died from possible COVID-19 complications. Kelvin Wilcher, a 49-year-old correctional officer in Huntsville, is believed to have died from the coronavirus as well, the TDCJ said April 7.
TDCJ is investigating six other offender deaths possibly related to COVID-19, pending preliminary autopsy results.
As of April 22, Travis, Williamson and Hays counties have reported zero positive cases in their jails to Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
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So far across the state, 252 employees, staff and contractors with the TDCJ have tested positive for COVID-19, and 594 inmates have tested positive.
More than 16,000 Texas inmates are on "medical restriction" because staffers believe they may have come into contact with an employee or inmate who tested positive or who is undergoing a COVID-19 test, the TDCJ said.
Twelve employees and 47 inmates in Texas have recovered after testing positive.
In Travis County, judges and prosecutors have let people out of jail -- hundreds of whom are charged with serious felony crimes -- to reduce the spread of the virus in the Travis County Jail.
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