As COVID-19 cases rise daily in Saskatchewan, so do the province’s inmate numbers.
The Ministry of Corrections, Surveillance and Public Security stated in an email to Global Regina that there are a total of 125 positive cases of COVID-19 in provincial correctional institutions.
“The pandemic activity in correctional facilities is reflective of what is happening in the larger Saskatchewan community,” the province stated. “As cases increase in the community, we expect to see additional cases in our correctional facilities.”
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As of January 13, 2022, the Saskatoon Correctional Center currently has 87 active cases of COVID-19, the Prince Albert Correctional Center has 34 active cases, and the Regina Correctional Center has two active cases. All reported cases involve inmates of provincial institutions.
Figures for staff employed in provincial institutions differ. The Saskatoon Correctional Center currently has 32 active cases of COVID-19, the Prince Albert Correctional Center has 16 active cases, and the Regina Correctional Center has four active cases.
The executive director of the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan says they hear concerns from inmates and their families when it comes to people infected with COVID-19.
“The consistent thing is that people are generally nervous and fearful of both the inmates that we hear about and the families that don’t know what’s going on and how people are being treated,” Shawn Fraser said.
“Our focus is on the prisoners. We have also heard those same problems from the guards. It’s not always a safe working environment for people.”
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The Ministry of Corrections, Surveillance and Public Security stated that corrections have maintained a wide variety of measures to deal with the pandemic.
They recently implemented additional measures at Saskatchewan correctional facilities, such as suspending in-person visits, requiring all staff and contractors to wear a double surgical mask while working in a correctional facility, and requiring all inmates to wear a double surgical mask. /proc mask when they are out of their cells.
Staff are encouraged to use take-home rapid test kits.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) stated to Global Regina that there is only one active case of COVID-19 at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary. CSC confirms that there are currently no active cases at any other federal correctional facility: the Regional Psychiatric Center, Willow Cree Healing Lodge, or Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge.
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