Inmate at London jail tests positive for COVID-19

Deep cleaning is taking place in a certainareas of the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) after an inmate tested positivefor COVID-19.

This is the first case of the virus the provincial jail has recorded over the course of the pandemic. The case also accounts for Middlesex-London's single new case reported Thursday by the health unit.

"In cases where inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, immediate precautionary containment measures are taken, in accordance with operating procedures, including deep cleaning of impacted areasand notifying the local Medical Officer of Health as well as provincial health professionals," read a statement from Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for theMinistry of Solicitor General.

Denette added that in addition to a partial lockdownto facilitate a deep clean at the facility, the jail is also working with public health officials to test inmates, including new admissions,for any additional cases of the virus.

Case may be a false positive, health officialsays

During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Dr. Chris Mackie, the medical officer of health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, said there'sa possibility for the case to be a false positive, especially after universal testing wasdone at the facility and no individuals close to the inmate have tested positive for the virus.

"So, in this situation where we know the prevalence is quite low to begin with and we find a positive in someone who doesn't have symptoms and no other contacts are positive either, it strongly suggests a false positive," he explained.

Regardless of the possibility, Dr. Mackiesaid the health unit is treating the case as a positive one and the inmate is being isolated.

"We'll make sure that all appropriate protocols are being followed, that high-touch surfaces are being cleaned regularly, that all staff and inmates are monitoring for symptoms and anyone with symptoms comes forward for repeat testing," he said.

Back in March, the province began implementing measures to limit the spread of the virus in correctional facilities, includingreleasing more than 2,000 inmates from Ontario jails.

Additionally, several infection control measures have been taken at all jails across the province, according to the ministry. These include theuse of personal protection equipment for all staff as needed, increasedcleaning measures,temperature checks for staff and visitors, and isolating new inmates from the general population for 14 days.