Etobicoke jail reports 25 cases of COVID-19

Toronto South Detention Centre cases spike from high of 7 on Wednesday

There are 25 positive COVID-19 cases at the Toronto South Detention Centre, Ontario’s Ministry of the SolicitorGeneral confirmed Friday.

This is the largest outbreak so far at the Etobicoke jail, which primarily holds inmates awaiting trial.

“Those inmates are under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care. The ministry is working with Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing. Proactive testing of staff as well as inmates within the same units are underway,” a ministry spokesperson said Friday.

The ministry did not comment on how many units at the jail are affected, or how the cases may have spread. It is also unclear how many staff cases there are.

The Friday total is up significantly from the most recent public data posted by the ministry. According to the latest release, Toronto South had seven active cases as of Dec. 9, up from five the previous day and three before that.

The data also showed three positive cases at the Toronto East Detention Centre in Scarborough.

According to the information released about testing, also as of Dec. 9, there have been a cumulative total of 40 positive tests in the Toronto region out of 1,908 tests done.

While the Ministry of the Solicitor- General said the jail population dropped by more than 30 per cent in the early months of the pandemic —although legal organizations say it is unclear exactly how that number was reached — the population has been climbing back toward normal levels in recent months.

“While they have done exceptionally well and have been remarkably diligent, this dam had to burst,” said John Struthers, president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.

“Jails are the cruise ships or long-term-care homes of the justice system. Prisoners and jail personnel should be at the front of the line for vaccines.”