The president of the union representing workers at Sarnia Jail says the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been their top concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OPSEU Local 128 President Joel Bissonnette said the union is very engaged with the employer.
"We're in a much better position today than we were three weeks ago around when and how we're using our PPE," said Bissonnette. "The employer's position has always been around a supply issue and making sure we don't run out in higher-risk situations versus lower-risk situations. So I am happy to see that now the supply issue doesn't seem to be as big of a concern anymore, that supplies are much more easier to get, that we're using PPE a lot more frequently now."
Bissonnette said the issues aren't specific to Sarnia Jail.
"So province-wide, the employer has been very engaged with us, including us in conversations. It's just getting to the agreements in place where all parties are happy with what and how we're using our PPE."
Ministry of Solicitor General spokesperson Kristy Denette told BlackburnNews in an email that as of April 14, there were no confirmed COVID-19 cases at Sarnia Jail.
Denette said the ministry has "made operational changes at our adult provincial correctional institutions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including restricting personal visitors, substantially reducing inmate in-person court appearances and proactively reducing the inmate population. Each institution, including Sarnia Jail, has an individualized pandemic plan utilized in consultation with local public health partners."
Across the St. Clair River in Port Huron, the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.
As of April 23, the jail reported 11 confirmed cases, seven inmates, three corrections deputies and one nurse.
The sheriff's office said none of the cases has required hospitalization.
