Coronavirus US Update: Federal Inmate Dies Of COVID-19 Weeks After Giving Birth While On Ventilator

A federal inmate died from coronavirus Tuesday (April 28), weeks after giving birth while on a ventilator.

In a press release, the Bureau of Prisons said the inmate, identified as 30-year-old Andrea Circle Bear, was transported to FMC Carswell in Texas from Winner City Jail in South Dakota on March 20. She was placed on quarantine status as per the coronavirus procedures followed by the bureau.

“On March 28, Ms. Circle Bear was evaluated by FMC Carswell Health Services staff and transported to the local hospital due to potential concerns regarding her pregnancy. After evaluation by the local hospital staff, Ms. Circle Bear was discharged the same day and transported back to FMC Carswell,” the press release said.

Three days later, the inmate, who was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment for "maintaining a drug involved premises", was evaluated again after she complained of dry cough, fever and other coronavirus symptoms. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Following an evaluation, the woman was put on a ventilator. The following day, she gave birth to her baby via cesarean section while on ventilator. On April 4, it was confirmed that Bear had COVID-19.

“On April 28, Ms. Circle Bear, who had a pre-existing medical condition which the CDC lists as risk factor for developing more severe COVID-19 disease, was pronounced dead by hospital staff,” the statement said. There was no additional information about what the pre-existing condition was.

As of April 28, over 1,700 federal inmates tested positive for the deadly virus out of which 400 recovered.

Speaking about the precautions taken in prisons to curb the spread of the virus, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Prisons had said, "Out of an abundance of caution, the BOP provided guidance to health-care professionals throughout the system and has a screening tool in place for use in the event an inmate or staff member is exposed or symptomatic."

"The BOP has an internal web-based system for reporting infectious diseases and outbreaks, allowing access to health care and correctional professionals system-wide. Every BOP facility has contingency plans in place to address a large range of concerns, to include infectious diseases, and is fully equipped to implement these plans as necessary,” she added.