COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: December 22, 2020
This content is a message to federal offenders and their families from Correctional Service Canada's (CSC’s) Commissioner.
As we head into the holidays, I wanted to send you my best wishes. I think we are all looking forward to a new year — 2020 has been a year like no other. I sincerely appreciate your cooperation as we continue to navigate these challenging times and work to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in many communities and we continue to closely monitor the situation and take actions, as needed. We currently have active inmate cases at Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba; Saskatchewan Penitentiary, in Saskatchewan; and at Joyceville, Collins Bay, Beaver Creek and Warkworth institutions, in Ontario. We have put heightened measures in place to help contain transmission of the virus. All decisions related to the health and safety of our institutions are being made in lockstep with public health partners. Please speak to staff on site if you have any questions.
If you are offered a test, please take it. This helps us identify cases early, contain any spread, and monitor everyone’s heath closely. It is also possible for individuals to transmit the virus unwillingly to others without having any symptoms themselves.
COVID-19 vaccines have started arriving in Canada and will be a critical way to limit the spread of the virus. We are following advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Public Health Agency of Canada on prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure staff and offenders are provided with access to the vaccine in 2021. We will have more information to share with you in coming weeks.
At this time, it is really important that we not let our guard down. We must keep up with our infection and prevention control measures: keep a distance of two metres from others as much as possible, wash or sanitize your hands often, and please wear your mask. These simple things really do make a difference.
During the holidays, it is important to keep connecting with your families and loved ones. In areas where visits are temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, I encourage you to use video visitation or the telephone to reach out to your support networks. We have installed more video visitation kiosks across the country, and they are a great way to stay connected.
To help with this, I have added $5 worth of minutes on your phone account, effective December 21. As noted in my message of December 11, I have also extended the waiver for food, telephone, and accommodation fees until March 31, 2021. These deductions will not come off your pay during this time. I hope it helps.
Stay safe and healthy. I appreciate the many letters I have received from inmates acknowledging the efforts we are making to keep our institutions safe. And again, thank you for your ongoing cooperation.