Information about COVID-19 at Donnacona Institution

April 29, 2021 – Donnacona, Quebec – Correctional Service Canada

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) advises that seven inmates and seven staff members recently tested positive for COVID-19 at Donnacona Institution in Quebec, which constitutes an outbreak. We are closely monitoring the situation and measures are in place to minimize spread of the virus within the institution.

Contact tracing has been completed and testing for COVID-19 is being offered to all inmates and staff at the institution. CSC is currently using rapid tests to help detect positive cases more quickly and take necessary actions accordingly. Inmate testing numbers are updated daily from Monday to Friday and available on our website. The numbers of active cases currently reported for this institution may change as more testing is conducted and laboratory-confirmed results are available. In addition, CSC is currently rolling out the second phase of its vaccination strategy and has offered COVID-19 vaccines to all inmates and employees at the site.

This is an evolving situation and we continue to apply infection prevention and control measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19, and adapt based on public health advice. We continue to actively screen all individuals entering the institution and decisions regarding access to the site as well as programs and services are being made in consultation with public health authorities. All staff and inmates are equipped with medical masks, and we have increased cleaning and disinfecting throughout the site.

We are committed to reducing the risks of COVID-19 in all of our operations and keeping our employees, inmates and the public safe. We continue to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), local public health, the Canadian Red Cross as well as unions and stakeholders, to take any further steps needed to ensure everyone's safety.

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Quick facts

• Donnacona Institution is a maximum-security institution, located in Quebec. It has a rated capacity of 451 inmates.
• When employees become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19, they are required to contact local public health and self-isolate at home until cleared to return to work.
• Due to the fact that family visits are temporarily suspended at the institution, other options are available to inmates to connect with their family and support networks such as video visitation or telephone.
• CSC provides its own health care to inmates and has dedicated health care professionals in its institutions, including nurses and physicians, who closely monitor the health of inmates. CSC is also equipped to conduct its own testing and is working in close collaboration with its public health partners.

Associated links

·        Inmate COVID-19 testing in CSC institutions
·        CSC COVID-19 Preparations
·        CSC COVID:19 Vaccine Roll-Out: Phase Two
·        Visiting status for all CSC institutions
·        Government of Canada COVID-19 Information