Okanagan Correctional Centre (File photo)
Updated 4:28 p.m. April 2, 2020
Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
An inmate tested positive for COVID-19 at the South Okanagan Correctional Centre, the provincial health authority confirmed on April 2.
“There has a been an active surveillance program and this is the first test that has been positive in a facility in British Columbia,” Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said at the daily media briefing in Victoria.
She noted the inmate has been isolated and fellow inmates living in the same “pod” are being closely monitored. So far, no other cases have been identified, but Henry said authorities won’t be sure for two weeks.
There were 55 test-positive cases for a total of 1,121 in the province on April 2. A total of 121 were announced in Interior Health.
“This is of course something we have been concerned about and planning for,” Henry said.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and Interior Health have been managing the outbreak since it was reported April 1.
Henry said there are still outbreaks in 21 long-term care facilities, with 149 people hospitalized (68 in critical care), none of which are in the Interior Health region as of April 2.
B.C. reported an additional six deaths, which brings the total to 31 in B.C., and 641 people have fully recovered from the virus.
Henry said the province has been preparing for potential outbreaks in the province’s prisons, with enhanced surveillance, visitor restrictions and health checks.
She noted that all new incoming inmates are isolated for 14 days before being placed in the general population.
In response to questions from the Osoyoos Times, BC Corrections said they were advised of an individual in custody April 1 at Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) who tested positive for COVID-19, and the symptoms were mild.
“At the onset of symptoms, this individual was isolated under medical observation and tested. This person’s symptoms were mild. No one else on this individual’s unit is symptomatic at this time. Following provincial health guidelines, an investigation into direct contacts is now underway to identify anyone who may have had exposure to this individual, and appropriate measures will be taken as directed by public health officials,” BC Corrections stated.
As for releasing non-violent inmates to prevent the spread of the virus, that issue is being left up to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Henry said.
The health officer stated that everyone needs to be incredibly careful about what they do, noting there are more than one million cases of COVID-19 in the world today. She said the numbers are increasing across Canada.
-Files from Lyonel Doherty
