A COVID-19 outbreak among staff members at the two state prisons in Mansfield continues to rise.

A 72-year-old man has become the sixth Richland Correctional Institution inmate to die due from COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Two more Richland Correctional Institution inmates have died due to COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction,

MANSFIELD -- A third inmate at the Richland Correctional Institution has died in October from what the state calls a "probable" COVID-19 death…

 A second inmate death at the Richland Correctional Institution is listed as "probable" for COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website.

The recent death of a Richland Correctional Institution is listed as "probable" for COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website.

A second state prison in Richland County appears to be experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak.

If Richland County is "purple," or level four, next Thursday in the state's color-coded, COVID-19 ranking system, at least part of the worsening spread can be attributed to an ongoing outbreak at the Richland Correctional Institution.

State and local officials are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak at the Richland Correctional Institution, where 28 inmates have currently tested positive for coronavirus with results pending from 18 additional tests.

Ohio's union workers for the state's Department of Rehabilitation and Correction state issued an email Thursday saying the lives of staff and inmates remain at risk due to COVID-19.