Jane DeMille-staff photo
A COVID-19 outbreak affecting 14 inmates at the District Jail has the region’s top doctor on alert.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janet DeMille says this is not a place health officials wanted to see an outbreak happen with such a vulnerable population.
“The jail facility itself makes it hard to properly manage an outbreak or reduce the infection,” explains DeMille.
The health official says it was disturbing to have any cases at all at the jail, never mind 14.
DeMille tells us the Thunder Bay District Health Unit will be monitoring those who are infected when they are released from jail.
COVID outbreak at Thunder Bay District Jail expands significantly
There are now 15 positive cases at the jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre
Jan 12, 2021 9:08 PM By: Gary Rinne
The virus was first diagnosed in one inmate on Jan. 5.
A day later, after a second prisoner tested positive, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit declared an outbreak at both the jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, where both inmates had been transferred.
On Jan. 10, it was learned that two more inmates at the jail were found to have the virus.
Following additional contact tracing and voluntary tests on other inmates and correctional staff, the Ministry of the Solicitor General revealed Tuesday evening that there are now a total of 13 positive cases involving inmates at the jail on MacDougall Street, as well as the two cases at the correctional centre on Highway 61.