Another COVID-19 outbreak declared at Lindsay jail
DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: For the second time this year, a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay.
The outbreak declaration was announced by Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, during a virtual press conference, on Wednesday, September 8th.
“We’re starting to meet regularly, in terms of outbreak management, with the Central East Correctional Centre facility [members]. All of the cases to date are among the resident population and not among staff,” Dr. Bocking said.
However, as of press time, it is unclear how many virus cases there are in the facility.
“Yesterday, there were four cases [which] had been identified as part of the outbreak. I understand, there have been some additional cases identified today,” Dr. Bocking told reporters.
According to a statement, from the ministry of the Solicitor General, the ministry “is aware the Halliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Unit has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Central East Correctional Centre,” and “continues to work with local public health authorities to complete contact tracing, where necessary; and voluntary testing of inmates is ongoing.”
The statement adds, “any inmate [who] tests positive for COVID-19 is placed under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population, while they receive appropriate medical care.”
A previous outbreak was declared at the jail facility in May.