(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

Union requests better distancing practices and more testing at provincial correctional centres

Apr 9, 2020 | 2:15 PM

As of Thursday there have been six confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the province’s correctional centres, all traced back to staff members. No inmates have been infected.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Corrections and Policing, staff and offenders who exhibit symptoms consistent with the virus, or have been identified through contact tracing, are tested as appropriate in collaboration with local public health and medical authorities. Saskatchewan Government Employees Union (SGEU) President Bob Bymoen said union members have expressed some concerns about the level of safety in the workplace.

“We are working with the correctional centres to improve and increase the safety aspects, both for the staff and the inmates,” Bymoen said, adding you can’t have one group safe without the other.

Among the measures, SGEU has requested are better distancing practices, more testing, and ensuring there is enough personal protective equipment to allow staff to do their job effectively.

“The government is trying to address those concerns in the workplaces, and is talking about in the meetings [with the union],” Bymoen said.

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With respect to the use of gloves or masks, Bymoen said people who work in health care or at the correctional centres have been paying greater attention and have taken the necessary precautions to keep both themselves, and others around them safe.

As for inmates, statements from both the provincial ministry and the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), indicated all new admissions to provincial correctional facilities or the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, are quarantined for 14 days as a precautionary measure before being placed with the rest of the population in the facility. All new admissions are also subject to specific COVID-19 screening procedures by admittance staff, including a medical screening by a nurse.

paNOW was also informed in the event of an inmate at Sask Pen, from the established population or transferred from provincial custody, shows symptoms of COVID-19, CSC protocol involves medically isolating those inmates and removing them from their population promptly to prevent the spread of infection.

“The Correctional Service of Canada is committed to protecting the safety of staff, inmates, and the public in all of its operations,” the statement said.

For the time being, CSC has suspended visits to inmates, all temporary absences (unless medically necessary) work releases for offenders, and all inter-regional and international transfers of inmates.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell