Three staff members at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre are confirmed to have COVID-19.

The infections forced the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to declare an outbreak Monday, but thus far no inmates have received a positive diagnosis.

President Shawn Bradshaw of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 708 said that an office worker also contracted the virus ten days ago.

“We’ve been short staffed for so long that this is really nothing new,” Bradshaw responded when asked about staffing levels during the outbreak. “We do have a couple of (individuals) who are off as close contacts with those staff (members), which has made it a little hard but we’re getting through it. To have our first positive test last Monday and to only have three cases at this point is a good sign.”

On January 7th the Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the District Jail with as many as 24 individuals being identified as having the virus, which includes staff and inmates.

Acadia News has reached out to the President of OPSEU local 737 Bill Hayes for comment, but our calls have not been returned.

For Correctional Centre employees, Bradshaw mentioned that the rule is you have to be off work for ten days if you test positive or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Guards are equipped with gowns, gloves, eyewear and masks when on duty while inmates are provided with masks. Bradshaw stresses that prisoners will be encouraged more to wear them to avoid further cases.