Penetanguishene jail outbreak jumps to 23 COVID cases

Central North Correctional Centre COVID-19 outbreak numbers continue to grow.

There are now 23 inmates testing positive, up from 15 last week when the outbreak was declared by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

Of that total, there are 16 “local” inmates testing positive, up from six last week, according to union head Richard Dionne.

“There are no staff cases at this time,” said Dionne, who’s president of OPSEU local CNCC-369.

While the “local” inmates are all housed in the same unit, Dionne said transfers have also increased the overall number of COVID-19 positive inmates housed at the Penetanguishene institution.

The current outbreak includes nine inmates transferred recently from the Sudbury jail.

“These numbers will not likely be reflected in SMDHU numbers, as these will be in Sudbury's outbreak,” said Dionne, whose members have voiced concerns about the ongoing transfer of inmates from jail to jail during the pandemic.

Andrew Morrison, a spokesperson with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, said each facility has its own pandemic plan in place prepared in consultation with local public health partners.

Morrison earlier said the ministry will continue to work collaboratively with its health unit partners to manage the active COVID-19 cases at the facility and to continue to protect staff and inmates in its custody.

“All newly admitted inmates are screened and tested for COVID-19,” Morrison said, noting inmates must give their consent to be tested.

“All newly admitted inmates, regardless of vaccination status, are housed in a separate area from the general population for 14 days and tested again on day 10 (with consent).”

Morrison said any inmate who tests positive for COVID-19 is placed on droplet and contact precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care.

“The ministry works with local public health units to complete contact tracing and to determine isolation and testing requirements for high risk close contacts,” he said, noting the ministry has its own vaccination supply and makes the vaccine available to all eligible inmates on an ongoing basis.