COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: March 11, 2022

This content is a message to federal offenders and their families from Correctional Service Canada's (CSC's) Commissioner.

Two years ago today, March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was a global pandemic. This has had an enormous impact on everyone, including each of you in different ways. It changed the way we did things to help prevent and limit the spread of the virus in our facilities.

Thank you for your cooperation and adapting as we continue to manage through the challenges of this pandemic. It has not been an easy couple of years, but we are coming out the other side of this pandemic.

We are currently seeing case numbers coming down in the community and this is a good sign. We all look forward to this pandemic being over.  However, the virus is still circulating in our communities and in some of our institutions. This is why we need to keep up with the health and safety measures we have been practicing, such as wearing a mask, monitoring your health and telling health care staff when you feel sick. Please consider getting your booster shot if you have received two doses of the vaccine. A third dose is needed to increase your protection and help prevent you from a severe outcome if you contract COVID-19.

March is Nutrition Month. Nutritious food is important and essential for your health. CSC has a team of registered dietitians who work with institutional food services in each region. They are the subject matter experts when it comes to questions related to food and diet in the institutions. Dietitians can help you:

• make healthier food choices,
• adopt healthy behaviors, and
• provide personalized nutritional advice.

March 16 is Dietitians Day and let us take time to recognize the work of our dietitians.

This coming week, March 13 to 19, is Agriculture Safety Week, I would like to thank those of you who have worked on the prison farms for the past few years at Collins Bay and Joyceville Institutions. There is great work happening at the farms and you should be proud of your contributions.

Just a reminder to set your clocks forward one hour this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 13, at 2:00 a.m. We will lose an hour of sleep but gain more sunshine, as the days get longer.

Finally, I have extended the waiver for:

• food,
• telephone, and
• accommodation fees,

from March 31 to April 30. These deductions will not come off your pay during this time.  I encourage you to pursue your education or vocational skills.