19 COVID-19 cases connected to Sudbury Jail outbreak, inmates being transferred
The Sudbury Jail is being closed for at least two weeks following a COVID-19 outbreak, as Sudbury's health unit reports 37 new cases in the district on Monday.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General tells CTV News Northern Ontario there are 16 COVID-19-positive inmates associated with the current Sudbury Jail outbreak. Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirm there are a total of 19 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Sudbury jail, indicating that three people that are not incarcerated have been infected.
The facility is being closed for a minimum of 14 days. Inmates are being transferred to other facilities and the Ministry of the Solicitor General said the temporary closure will allow facility staff to self-isolate and reduce the risk of transmission within the community.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of the Solicitor General said Monday about 145 inmates at the jail will be transferred to other facilities "that have capacity and ability to isolate these inmates under droplet precautions separately from the general population."
"Staff assigned to transfer inmates are following appropriate infection control protocols to prevent the risk of any further spread of infection," said Andrew Morrison in an email.
"The ministry does not publicly disclose details on inmate transfers for security reasons."
Inmates who have tested positive will be separated from others to prevent further spread.
"Inmates from the Sudbury Jail who are COVID-19 positive will be isolated from the rest of the inmate population under droplet precautions at the receiving facilities while they receive appropriate medical care," Morrison said.
"The ministry is working with the health unit to complete contact tracing of inmate cases."
--With notes from Alana Everson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.