The first coronavirus-infected inmate in Colorado’s prison system came from Denver’s jail

Inmates were only supposed to be transferred from county jails in rare circumstances.

Video visitation phones inside the Denver County Jail, Jan. 9, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Video visitation phones inside the Denver County Jail, Jan. 9, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

staff photos

An inmate transferred from Denver County Jail to Buena Vista Correctional Complex has tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The inmate was taken from the jail to the prison on March 26, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections, despite orders from the governor to suspend transfers of inmates from county jails to state prisons except in rare circumstances.

CDOC said the infected person “had been in quarantine since arriving at the prison” but had a cellmate. The infected person never entered the general population, according to CDOC.

Six inmates currently in custody in Denver have tested positive, according to the city’s Joint Information Center.

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