The Attorney General’s Ministry confirmed on Sunday that more than two dozen inmates at Etobicoke Prison have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
An additional 18 injuries among prisoners were reported at the Toronto South Detention Center on Friday, bringing the total number of active cases to 25.
There were seven cases in prison the previous day.
“These prisoners are subject to precautions using eye drops and are isolated from the rest of the prisoners while they are receiving appropriate medical care. The ministry said in a statement that the ministry is working with Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing.
“A preemptive testing of staff, as well as prisoners within the same units, is underway.”
The ministry did not mention the number of cases among the employees.
Meanwhile, three inmates at the Toronto East Detention Center have contracted the virus.
The ministry said it has made operational changes to all provincial correctional facilities in the past few months.
This includes testing all newly admitted inmates with their consent and housing them in an area separate from the general population for 14 days, and providing guest masks and personal protective equipment for staff.
Staff and visitors are always required to wear masks and take their temperature. The ministry said there was an increase in cleaning at facilities.
