Information about COVID-19 at Saskatchewan Penitentiary

From: Correctional Service Canada

News release

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) advises that 25 inmates and 10 staff members recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the medium-security unit at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. We are closely monitoring the situation and measures are in place to minimize spread of the virus within the institution. CSC has declared this an outbreak.

Contact tracing has been completed and testing for COVID-19 is being offered to all inmates and all 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 number 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 is offering COVID-19 vaccines to 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 must wear 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, as well as unions and stakeholders, to take any further steps needed to ensure everyone's safety.

-30-

Quick facts

  • Saskatchewan Penitentiary is a clustered institution for male offenders with a unit-style minimum facility, a dome-style medium facility, and a range-style maximum facility. The institution is located 1 kilometer west of the City of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. 

  • The medium-security unit, where the cases have been identified, has a capacity of 457 offenders. There are currently no confirmed cases at the minimum or the maximum units.

  • 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 visits are temporarily suspended at Saskatchewan Penitentiary, other options are available to inmates to connect with their family and support networks such as video visitation or telephone.

  • Saskatchewan Penitentiary staff have been provided opportunities to be vaccinated at the institution between April 22 and April 25.  Inmate vaccination clinics began April 20 and will be available until April 28.  Inmates and staff from minimum, medium and maximum security units are able to be vaccinated.

  •  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

Contacts

Media Relations, Prairie Region
Correctional Service Canada
PRAmedia@csc-scc.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified: