WINDSOR, ONT. -- A COVID-19 outbreak at the South West Detention Centre has been declared by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
The outbreak was first reported on Friday. There were no variants of concern identified at the jail, according to the WECHU website.
Due "privacy and confidentiality" the health unit says it will not be able to provide further updates regarding the outbreak.
According to data on the province’s website, four inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at the South West Detention Centre as of March 11. The data does not include staff members.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General spokesperson Andrew Morrison told CTV News the ministry is aware of the outbreak at the Windsor jail.
“Local public health authorities determine case thresholds for a declared outbreak. Each facility has its own pandemic plan in place prepared in consultation with local public health partners,” Morrison said in an email.
Any inmate who tests positive for COVID-19 is placed under “droplet precautions” and is isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive medical care.
Morrison says the ministry has made operation changes in provincial correction facilities including:
- Screening and 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 to wear a mask and appropriate eye protection at all times while at the facility
- Requiring visitors to wear masks at all times while at the facility
- Requiring temperature checks for staff and visitors
- Working with local public health units to test inmates and staff as appropriate.
- Increased cleaning measures
The ministry says it continues to work with local public health units to contact trace and the voluntary testing of inmates is ongoing.
