Boyd County Jailer Bill Hensley tells WSAZ the inmate was showing signs of medical distress and was taken to King’s Daughter’s Medical Center where he died.

Hensley says the body was tested for COVID-19, and results did come back positive, however the virus is not being ruled as the official cause of death at this time.

The inmate had been in quarantine which has been protocol at the jail during the pandemic, and was never around any inmates. Hensley says the inmate never showed signs of the virus.

The Daily Independent followed up with the jailer, inquiring if the inmate had been sick for a period of time prior to Sunday and if he feared that others have been exposed to the virus. As of 6:50 p.m., Hensley hadn’t had an opportunity to respond.

The Ashland-Boyd County Health Department announced two additional cases of COVID-19 over the weekend — a 14-year-old female and 34-year-old female are in home isolation.

The health department has reported 42 total cases in the county. There have been 3,380 tests performed in Boyd County. Thirty-four of the 42 patients have recovered.

Greenup County didn’t announce any more cases over the weekend. The county’s tally is at 14.

Carter County’s health department has reported 16 cases in all.

The jail will be working with health officials to test all staff and quarantine anyone who was in direct contact with the inmate.

The inmate’s name is not being released at this time.

The jail was on lockdown most of the day Sunday, but Hensley says that is being lifted.