Since the beginning of August, the Denton County Jail has seen 3 different Covid deaths, and all are not just inmates. On August 18, Brandon Alexander Dominguez died at a hospital after being released on a $2,5000 personal recognizance bond just a day earlier so that his family could make medical decisions on his behalf. As of right now, the Texas Rangers are investigating this death as under the Sandra Bland Act all custodial deaths must be investigated by an outside agency.

Dominguez’s death is not the only death amid an outbreak of Covid at the jail. In addition to his death, Detention Officer Joseph Rogers, an employee of the Sheriff’s Office for the last 18 years, died as well. A chaplain at the jail also died this last month.

These deaths are indicative of the recent resurgence that Covid has seen in the last couple of months in the United States. During the middle of the pandemic last year, another inmate died at the jail, and currently, there are 5 other jail employees who have tested positive and many other inmates as well.

This is only one instance of the overall surge that Covid is having in the country right now. It is uncertain whether or not those that have caught the virus have had the pandemic previously. Across the country hospital rooms and beds are full of covid patients and the large majority are unvaccinated. Be safe and get the vaccine, protect yourself and others.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/denton-county-inmate-jailer-and-chaplain-die-from-covid-19/2726588/