An outbreak was declared at Sask. Pen on Saturday. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public Safety

COVID-19 cases rising at provincial and federal correctional facilities

Dec 14, 2020 | 2:00 PM

Restrictions are in place at both the Prince Albert Correctional Centre (PACC) and Saskatchewan Penitentiary in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

As of Friday, the number of active cases at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre was 15, all inmates. According to a statement provided to paNOW from the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, cases in facilities other than the Saskatoon Correctional Centre are primarily due to inmates testing positive upon admission, rather than transmission within the facility.

“Offenders who test positive on admission are isolated from other offenders and provided with necessary medical care,” the statement said.

As per a previous paNOW article, there were three cases at PACC as of Dec. 3 – one staff member and two inmates.

In addition to PACC, there were also two cases at Pine Grove (inmates), four at the Regina Correctional Centre (one staff and three offenders), 99 at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre (21 staff, 78 offenders), two at the Paul Dojack Youth Centre (one staff, one offender), and three at Kilburn Hall Youth Centre (one staff, two offenders).

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The Ministry statement explained corrections is taking guidance from public health authorities on how to manage the offender population in a way that reduces the risk of further spreading of COVID-19 as much as possible.

Over the weekend, an outbreak was also declared at Saskatchewan Pentitentiary. James Bloomfield, president of the Prairies region for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, told paNOW the prison had its first case on Saturday.

“Right now we have 24 inmates who have tested positive and all of which have been moved to an isolation area,” he said.

Staff at the prison have access to rapid testing and so test results can be known within 30 minutes. As of Monday the entire inmate population had been tested and Bloomfield expected staff testing to be completed by Tuesday. He also explained extensive cleaning is being done and PPE equipment such as masks has been dispersed to all areas of the prison.

“We are doing our best under these conditions,” he said. “As you know we kind of have a cruise ship on land so to speak.”

Bloomfield explained staff are being isolated as well, with only one group going into and out of the quarantined area, and not rotating to any other area of the prison.

“It is a very big effort to make sure everyone stays safe,” Bloomfield said.

There are roughly 800 inmates at Sask. Pen. and 400 staff.

According to a media release from the Government of Canada, all visits to the penitentiary are still suspended to limit who is coming and going. The decisions on who has access are being made with help from public health.

“We are committed to reducing the risks of COVID-19 in all of our operations and keeping our employees, inmates and the public safe,” as stated in the release. “We will continue to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), local public health, the Canadian Red Cross as well as unions and stakeholders, to take any further steps needed to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Editors Note: This story was amended to include information provided from the Government of Canada.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell