14 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 at Thunder Bay District Jail
Thunder Bay – There is currently a COVID-19 Outbreak at the Thunder Bay District Jail. There are, according to the Solicitor General currently 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the facility.
The Solicitor General of Ontario tells NetNewsLedger, “Any inmate that tests positive for COVID-19 is placed under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care”.
“The ministry continues to work with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to complete contact tracing, and voluntary testing of inmates and staff is ongoing. Out of an abundance of caution, the Thunder Bay Jail remains locked down to facilitate contact tracing, however inmates are able to access showers and telephones.”
“Protecting the health and safety of correctional services staff and those in provincial custody is the ministry’s top priority”.
Over the last number of months, the ministry has made important operational changes across all provincial correctional facilities:
- Testing all newly admitted inmates, with their consent
- Housing all newly admitted inmates in a separate area from the general population for 14 days
- Masks provided to inmates, if required
- Providing personal protective equipment for all staff
- Requiring all staff and visitors to always wear masks
- Requiring temperature checks for staff and visitors
- Working with local public health units to test inmates and staff as appropriate.
- Increased cleaning measures
There are families who are deeply concerned over the level of communication from the Thunder Bay District Jail over the condition of inmates currently in custody at the jail.
