Staff at Port Coquitlam pretrial centre tests positive for COVID-19

PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — A person working at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Fraser Health.

This is the second case of COVID-19 reported in a BC Corrections facility.

However, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Martin Lavoie says the risk of exposure remains low for the general public.

Health officials in conjunction with BC Corrections and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) are now following up with anyone who came in contact with the person.

There are no other confirmed cases among staff or individuals in custody at the centre, says the health authority.

PHSA will contact all individuals who might have come in contact with the staff member to determine if they are symptomatic and ensure self-isolation measures are being taken if needed.

North Fraser Pretrial Centre is one of the largest provincial institutions in B.C. and has 300 cells.

Okanagan Correctional Centre has one inmate who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, on the federal level, an inmate at a prison in Mission has died from apparent COVID-19 related complications. Though that is still being confirmed by the coroner.

So far, 54 inmates at Mission Institution had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, along with eight correctional officers who work there.

In total, 145 inmates at federal facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, including 48 at the Joliette Institution and 25 more at the Federal Training Centre Medium in Quebec.

With files from Kareem Gouda and Mike Hall