By Lyonel Doherty
Interior Health and prison officials are trying to determine how an inmate of Okanagan Correctional Centre contracted COVID-19 and who else may have been exposed.
On April 1, BC Corrections was advised that an individual in custody tested positive for the virus.
“At the onset of symptoms, this individual was isolated under medical observation and tested,” said BC Corrections. “This person’s symptoms were mild. No one else on this individual’s unit is symptomatic at this time.”
An investigation into direct contacts is now underway to identify anyone who may have had exposure to this individual.
The Ministry of Health was asked how an inmate at the prison could have contracted the virus. Spokesperson Chris Shewchuk said Interior Health was investigating this very question.
Interior Health spokesperson Susan Duncan told the Chronicle that they are working with BC Corrections and the Provincial Health Services Authority to conduct a “trace-back” investigation to try and find the source of the virus.
“The inmate has been in the facility since before the 14-day incubation period. However, the facility reports that they restricted visitation on March 12, so it is very unlikely that this virus came from a visitor.”
Duncan said the inmate has been appropriately isolated since symptoms appeared.
But the concern remains how many fellow inmates were exposed to this individual before he was isolated?
The other concern expressed by the public is the province’s conducting of risk assessments for the possible early release of non-violent inmates to stem possible COVID-19 outbreaks.
“This has to be an April Fool’s joke,” said one Chronicle reader on Facebook.
Many others commented that inmates are in prison for a reason and should not be released or else chaos would follow.
“Do you really think they won’t be more of a threat if they are on the outside?” another reader asked.
Part of the early-release assessment includes determining whether inmates have the necessary supports in place to survive in society.
According to a fact sheet from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, everyone coming into custody is given a questionnaire and a temperature check (and immediately isolated if any symptoms are shown).
A ban has been placed on in-person visits unless they are urgent. And lawyers are encouraged to meet with their clients by video or phone.
During mealtime, inmates are divided into smaller groups and individuals are separated using lines marked on floors.
There are also increased cleaning protocols of inmate and staff areas, including all surfaces that are touched.
