Employee at Millhaven Institution tests positive for COVID-19: CSC

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) has confirmed that a Millhaven Institution employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

Monday morning, Global News received tips from two people claiming to be family members of inmates at the institution, saying the penitentiary went into “lockdown” after a correctional officer at the institution tested positive for the disease.

CSC did not confirm the lockdown or that a correctional officer tested positive, but said an employee at the institution tested positive, and that “as a precaution, the institutional routine was modified,” but did not say how.

When asked about the case, KFL&A Public Health said it could not “share any identifying information of any of case or potential case outside of the established contact tracing and case management procedures.” Public health said it was working on questions to clarify when outbreaks are called at local penitentiaries and where that information will be posted.

According to CSC, the staff member last worked at the institution Oct. 13, and became symptomatic the following day. They were tested and received a positive result on Oct. 15, CSC said in a statement.

The staff member has not been back in the institution since.

CSC says it has performed contact tracing with anyone the staff member may have been in contact with at the institution, which has led to negative results in each case.

After receiving the negative results of all close contacts, the institution’s operational routine has returned to normal.

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Currently, CSC is not reporting any positive cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Millhaven or any other federal penitentiary.

CSC says it is monitoring the situation closely and has safety measures in place to mitigate the spread of the virus, like screening anyone who enters the building, and equipping all employees and inmates with masks and other personal protective equipment when required.

“We have health services in our institutions with health professionals on-site to monitor and treat inmates, as needed. We are committed to reducing the risks of COVID-19 in all of our operations and keeping our employees, inmates and the public safe,” CSC said.