By Matt Fetinko

PGRCC inmate raises health & safety concerns over COVID-19 practices

May 13, 2020 | 4:16 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — An inmate at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre recently wrote CKPG with some concerns about how they are being treated at the centre, specifically in regards to COVID-19. The writer’s identity will remain anonymous, other than saying they are in the Charlie Unit.

The note reads, “My health is not the greatest so I’m very scared I’m going to catch COVID-19 here, same with other inmates.”

The letter references a few instances where the inmate felt quarantine was necessary but did not happen. Examples include another inmate being sent to hospital and then returning, and then two inmates from the Regional Correctional Centre in Kamloops transferring to Prince George. Neither of the alleged examples given had the inmates involved having to self isolate.

According to the factsheet given to us by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, a 14 day intake screening is required for anyone coming into custody with a questionnaire, a temperature check, isolation for anyone with symptoms, and everyone else staying on intake units, or in isolation in other areas, for 14 days before placement within the general population in a centre.

There are also strict cleaning guidelines, as outlined by the Province, for all staff, contractors, and people coming in. These practices also commented on by the inmate, “They also do cell checks every day and do not change [their] gloves but some guards think it’s OK to touch all of our things with [the] same gloves.”

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All this in light of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Mission Medium Institution, which has 120 positive tests but just four active cases as of May 12th. Public health teams continue to provide support for various outbreaks in BC but it is causing a great deal of stress for inmates, many of which are concerned for their health according to the note we received.

“I am confident that there [are] processes in place and that infection control processes are being followed. I do get reports on a regular basis from the provincial correctional facilities and the federal correctional facilities now as well,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer. “I have not heard of concerns expressed from any of our provincial correctional facilities at the moment.”

CKPG had reached out trying to speak with someone on behalf of the PGRCC and the author of the letter sent, but those efforts were unsuccessful.