A second serving UK prisoner has died after contracting coronavirus.
The 66-year-old man, who was already receiving end-of-life care, was serving a sentence at HMP Manchester, the Prison Service confirmed.
He died in hospital today.
The terminally-ill inmate had an underlying condition before he tested positive for Covid-19, authorities said.
It comes after an 84-year-old man who was an inmate at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire died in hospital on March 22 after contracting coronavirus.
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Following the death of the inmate, named by sources as convicted paedophile Edwin Hillier, in HMP Littlehey, a Prison Service spokesperson told Mirror Online: “A 84-year-old prisoner at HMP Littlehey died in hospital on 22 March. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
So far 19 inmates had tested positive for Covid-19 across 10 jails and four prison staff had tested positive for the disease across four jails.
Three prisoner escort and custody services staff have also tested positive for Covid-19.
The Prison Service said robust contingency plans have been put in place at its facilities in consultation with Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care.
It added that prisons are well prepared to take immediate action wherever cases or suspected cases of Covid-19 are identified, including the isolation of individuals where necessary.
