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.
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.
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.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
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.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
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.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.