Groups call for voluntary COVID-19 testing in all Sask. jails to get accurate picture of virus behind bars

How many people in jails across Saskatchewan have COVID-19?

The short answer is — no one knows. 

Many steps have been taken to slow the spread of the illness behind bars. People going to the jails are quarantined, if the jail is admitting prisoners at all. Visitors are banned.

There is mandatory masking, and physical distancing when possible. Inmates no longer need to pay for soap.

But groups such as the  John Howard Society of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union, along with the Opposition NDP, are all wondering why there is no widespread, voluntary testing in jail for the virus.

"It boggles my mind," said the SGEU's Barry Nowoselsky, whose union speaks for correctional workers.

"People have been tested, but that's individuals when they have symptoms or inmates who have had symptoms." 

• Sask. corrections minister says province unable to release inmates from Saskatoon jail
• COVID-19 in Sask: 3 more deaths and 299 new cases, including 72 at Saskatoon Correctional Centre

The concern is that there could be dozens of active cases where a person is asymptomatic. They don't look sick so they're not tested, but they're actively spreading the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in the close quarters of the crowded jails — or unknowingly carrying it back into the community.

Widespread testing took place at the Saskatoon jail in late November, after health officials declared an outbreak at the centre.

As of Nov. 21, only one inmate and one staff member at the facility had tested positive for COVID-19. By month's end, that total had climbed to more than 100 offenders and staff, eventually peaking at 142. Measures to reduce the spread  included ongoing testing of offenders and staff at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre.

The head of a prisoner advocacy group says not testing at all jails doesn't make sense.

"I'm trying to think of an argument why we wouldn't have testing," said Shawn Fraser, the CEO of the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan.

"In the midst of the worst pandemic the world's seen in more than 100 years, I don't know a good argument against having testing available."

The number of active cases in Saskatoon appears to be slowly dropping — as of Friday, it's at 131 total, compared to the high of 142.

At the same time, however, COVID-19 numbers are creeping up at the Prince Albert jail (14 inmates positive) and in Regina (three inmates, one staff).

"I'm really concerned about what we're seeing happen in the jail," said NDP Justice critic Nicole Sarauer.

"I definitely think there is merit to do as widespread … testing as is necessary to determine what the scope of the problem is."

CBC Saskatchewan wants to hear how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted you. Share your story with our online questionnaire.