THUNDER BAY - The state of emergency declared earlier this week could be lifted if the number of COVID-19 cases in the district continues to go down and outbreaks at two correctional facilities are under control but there are still concerns about surges in shelter settings.
“If we do find ourselves in the position that I’m hopeful we will in the next short period of time, being able to ensure we have staffing and financial resources, we could potentially hopefully be in a position that we could announce the end of the declaration,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro. “There are some results we need to nail down before we can make that announcement.”
The city declared its second state of emergency earlier this week after receiving advice from various organizations that outbreaks of COVID-19 at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and the Thunder Bay District Jail could result in community spread of the virus and overwhelm shelter capacity.
“The concern of course is if COVID can take hold in some of the sheltering capacity and affect not only the residents but also staff, what would it mean for existing shelter capacity and how much more shelter space we would need,” Mauro said.
The outbreak at the District Jail was first declared on Jan. 9 and there have been 89 total cases. According to Bill Hayes, president of OPSEU Local 737 at the Thunder Bay District Jail, there are 22 active inmate cases of COVID-19 at the jail and 14 staff members.
"Right now, we are looking a lot better than we did yesterday and especially better than last week," Hayes said. "The first outbreak with inmates and staff is resolving, so we are getting a lot of resolved inmates and resolved staff. Now we can confidently move inmates through the institution."
Hayes added that he has not heard of any instances of inmates being released from custody while still awaiting a COVID-19 test result and every inmate, whether in custody, arriving, or released, is treated as potentially having COVID-19.
Test results are usually available within between 24 and 48 hours, but Hayes said rapid testing would make it easier to contain the virus.
"We have it down to 24 hours but rapid testing could be the answer. Especially when it comes to sending inmates back out into the community," he said. "I know that is a big concern in the community and for me as well."
As part of the state of emergency, the city is asking the province for financial and staffing assistance to ensure it can offer isolation shelters to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and need to self-isolate, including inmamtes released from custody, and those without adequate housing.
Mauro said the city has had discussions with the Ministry of the Solicitor General surrounding protocols for outbreaks in the correctional institutions, including controlling community spread of COVID-19.
“In terms of managing the situation as best we are able, a number of discussions have occurred and we feel very optimistic about having systems in place that should any broader community spread occur we will be well positioned to manage that,” Mauro said.
The province-wide lockdown is expected to end on Feb. 11 but Mauro said the state of emergency should not determine if the city remains under strict lockdown rules.
“I think the province reaches out to their health units across the province and get information directly from the health units and that informs decisions they make provincially,” he said.
“The numbers ultimately drive the decision making the province makes. There was relatively some good news as the total case count dropped a little today. The decision the province makes relies on data that comes back to them.”
