Exposure to public very low from case of COVID-19 at Okanagan prison

Interior Health is following up on any individuals who had contact with an inmate at Okanagan Correctional Centre who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Interior Health’s Medical Health Officer is confident that the risk of exposure to the general public is low, said an IH news release. “The patient is receiving appropriate care, with necessary infection control precautions in place. Individuals in custody who may have been exposed are all being monitored; there are currently no signs of illness beyond the first patient.”

An investigation into any contacts or potential sources is underway.

OCC, located in Oliver, reports that all visits to the institution have been restricted since March 12 and any new inmates who entered the facility were isolated for 14 days.

Public Health is working with BC Corrections and the Provincial Health Services Authority to identify any individuals who may have had contact with the inmate. Follow up will occur to ensure they were or are not symptomatic and that appropriate self-isolation instructions are followed if indicated.

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In accordance with the process established by Public Health, any individuals who may have had contact with the patient are being contacted directly, to ensure they are not symptomatic and that they have the resources to self-isolate for 14 days after last contact.

The prison inmate with a confirmed case of COVID 19 is the son of an Enderby couple who are concerned about their safety and their son’s.

Francis Amendt told Global News her 40-year old son Dean has been at the facility since January, serving a sentence for theft and gets out in two weeks.

Francis said she and her husband, who are seniors, are worried for their health if their son comes to live with them after he’s released.

She questions the prison’s virus-control policies with no possibility of quarantines due to having two people in each cell.