Correctional Service of Canada – COVID-19 Testing Strategy
October 1, 2020
Early Identification and Containment of COVID-19 through:
- Actively screening all inmates for COVID-19 symptoms at intake and release by health care staff.
- Active Monitoring of inmates by Health Care for COVID-19 symptoms at the following frequency:
- Daily at intake for 14 days.
- Daily, for 14 days, of all close contacts of any inmate that tested positive for COVID-19.
- Daily for all inmates at outbreak sites.
- Three times a week for all inmates at risk for a more severe outcome due to COVID-19 when there is community transmission. And daily during an outbreak.
- Medical Isolation for:
- 14 days for all inmates admitted on a Warrant of Committal or returning to federal custody following suspension/revocation.
- 14 days for all inmates who are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive case.
- All symptomatic and COVID positive inmates until medically cleared.
- Following a private family visit, overnight temporary absence or hospital admission.
- Some transfers when there is elevated community transmission.
- Self-isolation for all symptomatic staff and any close contacts of a COVID-19 positive case.
- Self-isolation of offenders in the community for 14 days when released from an outbreak site.
- Real-time epidemiological support to understand the nature of outbreaks and transmission points.
Comprehensive and expanded testing strategy for all CSC Institutions
- Testing of Inmates at Time of Admission and Release
- Offer testing to all inmates at intake, prior to their release from medical isolation.
- Offer testing to all inmates prior to their release to the community.
- Positive results reported to local public health and a plan jointly developed.
Testing of Symptomatic Inmates
- Offer testing to all symptomatic inmates no matter how minor the symptom.
- Complete contact tracing from symptom onset.
Testing of Symptomatic Staff
- Refer all symptomatic staff to local public health for symptomatic testing.
- Complete contact tracing from symptom onset and offer testing.
Testing of Inmates and Staff when there is an Outbreak
- Offer testing to all inmates and staff who are at risk for contracting COVID-19.
- For any positive tests, complete contact tracing.
Asymptomatic Surveillance - Offenders & Staff
- Weekly monitoring of community transmission rates to identify institutions located in areas of increased community transmission.
- Offer testing to all inmates and staff at institutions where community transmission is elevated.
- For any positive tests, complete contact tracing.
- Re-offer testing over several weeks/months when sites remain in areas of increased community transmission over several weeks/months.
Expanded Testing Capacity through Partnerships
- COVID-19 testing requires significant medical and material resources and organization.
- Expanded testing strategy requires additional testing capacity.
- CSC has engaged with public health authorities, private labs and the National Microbiology Lab to assist in building additional capacity.
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