(The Canadian Press)

By Troy Gillard

contact tracing underway

Three Bowden Institution employees test positive for COVID-19

Oct 30, 2020 | 6:17 PM

Three employees at Bowden Institution have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home, Correctional Service Canada confirms.

There are currently no reported positive cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Bowden Institution.

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) says contact tracing efforts are underway, in partnership with local public health authorities, to ensure close contacts of the infected individuals are self-isolating at home. CSC and Alberta Health Services has contacted all staff to set up COVID-19 testing appointments.

Bowden Institution has approximately 28 staff self-isolating at home as of October 30, a number CSC says may fluctuate based on contact tracing.

“At this time, and out of an abundance of caution, the institution is not accommodating visits. We are limiting comings and goings to essential staff and for medical reasons,” Correctional Service Canada shared in a statement. “The institution is operating on a modified routine for health purposes in order to take all measures to protect everyone on site until we have completed our contact tracing and additional testing, as needed.”

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CSC said they are monitoring the situation closely and diligently, and continue to apply infection prevention and control measures.

“We continue to actively screen employees entering our institutions and at Bowden all employees and inmates are equipped with medical masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment, as needed. We continue to raise awareness of COVID-19 among inmates and employees, including prevention measures, how to recognize symptoms and protocols to follow. We have also increased cleaning and disinfecting at sites.”

The number of inmates tested for COVID-19 in federal correctional institutions and the results of those tests are available on the Correctional Service Canada website.