A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Thorold jail.
Public Health confirmed to ThoroldToday that a number of cases have been found in inmates at the Niagara Detention Centre and said it is likely the Delta variant that is behind the development.
“70.2% of persons infected so far in this outbreak were not fully vaccinated,” said the region’s acting medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, in a comment.
“All cases that have so far been screened for Omicron variant have screened negative. Therefore all cases appear to be the Delta variant. We have not yet been able to establish how the outbreak began.”
The detention centre will not be closing at this time, but Public Health said it is monitoring the situation.
Currently Public Health is meeting with the jail management multiple times per day.
Measures so far include isolating all affected inmates and their closest contacts, isolating and testing both staff and inmates, and optimizing both ventilation as well as physical distancing measures.
The centre is also undertaking increased sanitation of the facilities.
