LISBON — Another inmate at FCI-Elkton has died after testing positive for COVID-19 and spending a month on a ventilator.

The federal Bureau of Prisons reported on Friday, Michael Brookwalter, a 56-year-old inmate with pre-existing conditions, first reported symptoms on April 6 and was treated for a fever and low oxygen levels. He was placed on a ventilator on April 8 and pronounced dead early Friday.

Brookwalter, who was serving a 210-month sentence for charges involving the sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor, is the ninth inmate from FCI-Elkton to die from complications with coronavirus. His death brings the total of deaths in Columbiana County to 34.

The BOP updated their figures on Friday evening, reporting 93 inmates and 12 staff members currently have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, the prison reports 44 inmates and 40 staff members have recovered.

The Columbiana County Health Department reported there were four additional cases of people testing positive for coronavirus on Friday, bringing the total accumulated number of infected residents to 315. Public information officer Laura Fauss said the 21-day average for new cases in Columbiana County has plateaued at seven per day. In the past week, there have been 54 new cases reported and 10 deaths in Columbiana County.

There have been 113 people in Columbiana County hospitalized due to COVID-19 since the beginning of the virus, but it is unknown how many remain hospitalized or have been released.

Statewide the numbers rose on Friday to 23,016 total cases with 1,306 confirmed deaths and 4,218 hospitalizations.

The county health department has received 450 coronavirus tests since the beginning of the pandemic and have distributed many of them to nursing homes and hospitals. Health Commissioner Wes Vins said with increased testing comes a possible increase in the numbers of cases. However, that also helps them trace people and prevent the spread.

At this time, it is not known how many of those tests have been utilized, but the tests are available at locations where people with symptoms are likely to be, such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Additionally, the health department continues to receive shipments of gloves, masks, gowns and face shields. Vins said the last shipment had many N-95 masks. The items come from federal and state resources, are sorted by the Ohio National Guard and arrived through the Ohio Department of Transportation. The health department signs off on the items and then turns them over to the county Emergency Management Agency, which distributes them to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes.

Paula Cope, the county health department’s public health emergency preparedness coordinator, said she does not believe there are any shortages of the personal protective equipment in the county right now. The materials are being given out based on needs expressed at briefings throughout the week.

djohnson@mojonews.com