Protests for Prisoners at the Federal Training Centre
Date: May 11, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: CSC
Issue: The media are reporting that advocates for action to stop the spread of COVID-19 in prisons held protests outside the Bordeaux jail, a provincial facility in the Montreal, Quebec Region, and outside the Federal Training Centre, a multi-level facility in the Montreal, Quebec Region. CSC is not responsible for the provincial facility.
Proposed Response:
- During these unprecedented times, the Correctional Service of Canada is working diligently, and often around the clock, to minimize any risks and prevent the spread of the virus.
- The Service continues to take exceptional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its institutions to limit the risk to inmates and staff, including having everyone at sites wear masks.
- The Service works closely with public health to trace, test and treat inmates, as needed, including use of local hospitals to provide any further care needed.
- There are dedicated health services in each of its institutions with nurses and doctors, and the equipment needed to monitor and treat inmates, including the necessary personal protective equipment.
- The Service protocol involves medically isolating inmates who show symptoms and are positive to COVID-19 to prevent the spread of infection. This helps to protect inmates that do not have the virus and those who may be more vulnerable, such as older inmates or those with an underlying health condition.
- The Correctional Service of Canada has enhanced cleaning protocols, including disinfecting common areas and high-contact surfaces. We continue to educate staff and offenders around prevention and the spread of illness, including the importance of good hygiene practices.
- In addition to a number of measures implemented across the country in all of our institutions, at the Federal Training Centre we implemented the following:
- Enhanced cleaning of the site, including disinfecting all high-touch surfaces multiple times a day;
- Active screening of anyone who must enter the institution;
- Reinforced prevention measures, such as physical distancing, enhanced hygiene practices and having everyone self-monitor their health;
- Implemented additional hand-washing stations and increased hygiene supplies throughout the institution; and
- A seven days a week nursing roster and physician coverage, to provide ongoing care to inmates. Hospital care is used, if needed.
- The Correctional Service of Canada continues to work with public health and infection prevention and control specialists at individual sites to implement additional measures that further strengthen its ability to prevent further spread of the virus.
- The Service has been working with Provincial and local health departments to institute mass testing for institutional outbreaks including the Federal Training Centre.
- As of May 10, test results show there are 105 active cases of COVID-19 among inmates. This means that out of 138 positive cases at the Federal Training Centre medium security facility, 32 inmates have now fully recovered.
- Across the country, there are 129 active cases of COVID-19 in three out of CSC’s 43 institutions. More than half (61%) of the inmates that tested positive since the beginning of this pandemic have now fully recovered.
- As our institutions remain operational during this health crisis, we are doing everything in our power to keep Canadians and those in our custody safe.
- We will continue to work with our partners at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as engage with unions in taking the necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety.
Background: The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is focusing its efforts on minimizing the risk of spreading COVID-19 to institutions. CSC has strengthened infection and prevention procedures to protect staff, offenders, and volunteers. CSC is also working with inmates to review existing treatment plans with a particular focus on older offenders and those more vulnerable due to pre-existing underlying health issues.
CSC is assessing any offenders exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Symptomatic individuals that meet public health criteria will be tested, provided with immediate clinical interventions as required, and CSC will contact local public health. CSC is collaborating with provincial and territorial public health laboratories to ensure that persons under investigation for COVID-19 are confirmed or ruled out through laboratory testing. Additionally, inmates are being kept informed through regular communiques.
CSC is continuing ongoing communications with staff, inmates, and visitors on preventative measures consistent with public health guidance, including hygiene practices, physical distancing and increased signage.
Current Measures
The Service has been working with Provincial and local health departments to institute mass testing for institutional outbreaks – including for asymptomatic individuals. Mass testing, tests asymptomatic people even if they are not a close contact to those individuals who have tested positive. Our experience to date has demonstrated high numbers of positive results in individuals without symptoms or choosing not to disclose symptoms.
Mass testing was conducted at the Federal Training Centre, in the multi and medium level units, on April 12th, 26th, 27th, and 29th, and May 1st, and testing is ongoing.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, in all of our institutions, CSC has temporarily suspended visits to inmates, all temporary absences (unless medically necessary), work releases for offenders, and all inter-regional and international transfers of inmates. This will be reassessed on an ongoing basis as the situation evolves.
CSC has also enhanced cleaning protocols, including disinfecting common areas and high-contact surfaces. We continue to educate staff and offenders around prevention and the spread of illness, including the importance of good hygiene practices through posters, fact sheets, and ongoing written and verbal communication. Direction was provided to staff on the type of cleaning to be undertaken in institutions on a regular basis and when a COVID-19 case is either suspected or confirmed.
In addition, sites must implement droplet and contact precautions when a staff member is within two meters of an inmate who is under investigation for COVID-19. This includes the use of gowns, gloves, face shields, and masks for all staff. Inmates are also being provided with masks.
On the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Environmental Health audits, CSC is working with PHAC and local health departments and community experts to have independent, expert-led audits completed in all of its facilities.
CSC and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) are working collaboratively to facilitate the safe release of federal inmates into the community with public safety being paramount in all discretionary release decisions. As mandated by the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), all releases to the community happen within existing authorities.
Cases among Inmates
As of May 10, 2020, 202 inmates have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 129 active positive cases of COVID-19. At Joliette, all women have recovered, yet three women continue to test positive. All inmates at Grand Valley Institution have recovered. Port-Cartier has active cases but all 5 inmates are now asymptomatic but continue to test positive. Finally, the Federal Training Centre continues to have active cases, with 61 pending results. To date, two inmates have passed away; one at Mission and one at the Federal Training Centre. As of May 10, in terms of staff, 121 have tested positive and 83 have now recovered. On May 6, 2020, Archambault Institution’s medium-security unit, a facility in the Quebec Region, was placed in lockdown as a precautionary measure after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Preventative Measures
In addition to working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our sites, CSC is simultaneously working to ensure readiness. CSC has well established infection and prevention guidelines and seasonal flu procedures, which are the foundation of our response. In addition, some of CSC’s planning highlights include:
- Reviewing the protocols and process with local hospitals should an inmate require hospitalization for COVID-19
- Ensuring staff are fully aware of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procedures, including donning and doffing protocols
- Maintaining an inventory of PPE equipment and participating in the Government’s purchasing initiative
- Has implemented its own tracing capability by training over 100 CSC employees
- Had experts go to Mission Institution in BC to review their infection and control measures and, as a result, CSC has added hand-washing stations, increased hygiene supplies and continues to disinfect high contact surfaces several times a day.
- Is planning Infection Prevention and Control audits for other institutions across the country, starting with institutions where there are outbreaks
- Has started production of masks and gowns through CORCAN, CSC’s offender employment program
- Conducting additional seasonal flu and pneumococcal vaccine outreach to increase uptake among the inmate population
- Reviewing the capacity of each institution to increase physical distancing
In support of readiness planning, CSC is actively engaging with the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health and their Special Advisory Committee. CSC is also in regular bilateral contact with Public Health Agency of Canada to review elements of our planning and receive expert feedback as required.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Jessica Martineau, Officer Parliamentary Relations, 613-943-1726
Approved by: Kirstan Gagnon, Assistant Commissioner, Communications & Engagement, 613-995-6867
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