Image

Inmate at Sarnia Jail tests positive for COVID-19

October 29, 2020

After more than seven months of keeping COVID-19 at bay the first case of the virus has been found in the Sarnia Jail.

The positive test was recorded from an inmate on Sunday, Oct. 25, and confirmed by the Ministry of the Solicitor General on Thursday.

“Since admission, the inmate has been in medical isolation and is receiving medical care as appropriate,” says ministry spokesperson Kristy Denette.

New inmates at the jail are housed in a separate intake area for two weeks before joining the general population. COVID tests are provided with the inmate’s consent.

Denette added that other measures taken at both Sarnia Jail and all provincial facilities include mandatory masks and temperature checks for staff and visitors, masks for inmates if they wish, and increased cleaning measures.

Staff at provincial facilities are not required to declare if they have tested positive for COVID, although they must pass a screening to attend work.

Since the pandemic began in March jails in Ontario have worked to release low-risk and intermittent offenders in an attempt to avoid COVID spread.

Justices have also been attempting to hand out non-custodial sentences when possible for offenders who aren’t deemed a risk to society.

Sarnia joins the other two provincial correction facilities in the region as having a recorded case. All three jails have managed to keep numbers low though.

The Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London currently has one active case in the inmate population, recorded on Oct. 20.

Their only other case was recorded June 11 and resolved 12 days later.

In Windsor, the South West Detention Centre didn’t record an inmate case until Aug. 31. They added their second on Sept. 15, but as of Sept. 27 both were resolved with no new cases since.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Fraud pilot project in Lambton saves $160,000 in six months

May 16, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent A unique program in Lambton is saving seniors from telephone scammers and catching the eye ofbanks in Canada. Lambton OPP Inspec. Chris Avery told Petrolia councillors Monday an anti-fraud program has stopped scammers from pocketing about $160,000 from Lambton residents in the last six months. Frauds are big business in Canada. Over $638 million was stolen in

Read More

Image
Front Page

Five LCCVI athletes win at Day Two of LK Track and Field meet

May 16, 2025

Five LCCVI athletes were at the top of the podium at the Lambton-Kent Track Meet . Meagan Munro, Kole Chapman, Jamison Helps, Jayden Davis-Lumley and James Grant all placed first in their events Wednesday at Great Lakes Secondary School. Munro won the 300M Junior Women’s Hurdles in 44 seconds. She had already won in the 80M Hurdles and second in

Read More

Image
Front Page

One person seriously injured in accident near Rutherford

May 15, 2025

One person was taken to hospital by air ambulance after an accident near Rutherford. Lambton OPP were called to Lambton Line near Pantry School Road just before 4 pm Thursday for a collision between a large fertilizer truck and a farm tractor towing a wagon with a water tank. Ornge air ambulance was called to the scene to take one

Read More

Image
Front Page

Temporary EMS station set up in Sarnia

May 15, 2025

The Independent Sarnia’s new ambulances have a new home. Lambton County has leased a commercial space near Modeland Road and Confederation Line to house a temporary EMS Station. Lambton County approved upgrading ambulance service in the city at budget after Stephen Turner, manager of emergency services for the county, said 62 per cent of calls are in Sarnia but only

Read More