(file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By paNOW Staff

After two correctional staff test positive for COVID-19, jails to take further preventative measures

Mar 27, 2020 | 1:53 PM

Increased measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in provincial jails after two staff members at Saskatoon Correctional Centre tested positive for the virus.

According to a media release from the Ministry of Corrections and Policing, the staff members were directed to self-isolate at home. Public health and corrections staff are working together to investigate who the two staff members may have come in contact with at the facility.

Staff members exhibiting symptoms of the virus are requested to contact a health care provider and notify any concerns to their supervisor.

“We are working with health authorities to ensure corrections workers, like other essential service providers, receive priority testing for COVID-19,” the release said.

As of now, no offenders in any provincial facilities are confirmed to have COVID-19. One unit at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre remains on quarantine as a precautionary measure. The release said the lockdown is for what is believed to be a non-COVID-19 illness.

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In light of the outbreak, the ministry is working to manage the sentenced offender population in provincial facilities by creating additional space between offenders and staff members.

The province says nurses are watching for symptoms of illness in inmates and if symptoms are identified, assessment, testing, documenting and reporting of the specific disease is conducted.

To prevent any disease or virus from spreading, there are isolated areas staff members can use to quarantine inmates, the release said.

As of now, personal protective equipment has been distributed to staff members and offenders. According to the release there are other measures being taken which include restricting offender movements and placements, suspending programming or limiting it to smaller groups for social distancing, increased communication about proper hygiene and contagious disease precautions, enhanced cleaning in facilities, and facility staff conducting thorough and regular hand washing.

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panews@jpbg.ca