(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

Isolation requirement extended past New Year’s for Sask. Pen. employees

Dec 29, 2020 | 5:09 PM

A public health order requiring all employees at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary to isolate when at home, and not interact with other members of the household, has been extended to Jan. 11.

The news was confirmed for paNOW Tuesday through an email from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

According to the initial letter from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, dated Dec. 20, the employees would be required to abide by the rules until Dec. 27. The strict measure to help slow the spread of the virus, meant of course missing out on any Christmas celebrations with family.

As of Dec. 29, there are 106 active case related to the prison – 88 inmates and 18 staff.

There have been 2,060 tests completed, with 82 recoveries. The total number of positive cases was 169.

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“The [health order] order includes permission for staff to continue to work at Saskatchewan Penitentiary during this time as long as they have not had any symptoms in the last week and do not develop any during this timeframe,” the statement said.

Staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 are self-isolating at home. The statement from the CSC explained testing for COVID-19 is being offered to all staff and inmates at the institution and contact tracing is underway.

“We are testing frequently, including asymptomatic individuals, to help detect positive cases of COVID-19 quickly and take the necessary actions. These tests are laboratory-confirmed, and the testing information for inmates is posted on our website,” the statement said.

In addition to the Sask. Penitentiary, testing is also being done at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (Maple Creek), Regional Psychiatric Centre, and Willow Cree Healing Centre, but there have been no positive cases as of yet at those facilities.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell