Another COVID-19 outbreak reported at Oliver prison

By Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the Okanagan Correctional Centre near Oliver is the subject of another COVID-19 outbreak.

Today, she reported that three staff members are involved at this point and that health officials are working with the facility to ensure that outbreak protocols are being implemented.

The prison was the site of an outbreak earlier this spring.

Henry reported 78 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. today (85 yesterday), bringing the total in the province to 4,274, including 398 in the Interior Health region.

There are no new COVID-19 deaths in the B.C. today.

In her epidemiological modelling report, Henry stated they continue to have COVID-19 cases pop up due to international travel, including Canadians returning from India and the U.S., and temporary foreign workers from Mexico (who became ill with the virus while in quarantine).

Henry said they are starting to see a rapid increase in younger people (29 year olds, for example) contracting the virus due to exposure events such as private parties.