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Photo by Dax Melmer / Windsor Star

Denette confirmed the memo’s legitimacy to the Star on Friday.

That individual mentioned in the memo entered self-isolation and was ordered for testing on March 14, the document said. On March 18, the ministry was notified the contractor had a presumed positive case of the virus.

“CKPH may contact anyone with whom the contractor may have interacted with on March 12 and March 13 at SWDC,” the memo said. It advises anyone contacted by the public health organization to notify a manager “immediately.” Staff are also asked to self-monitor and tell jail management if they start to exhibit symptoms.

Consultation with the local public health is ongoing to ensure appropriate steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of our staff and appropriate custody of inmates.

“It is important to note the contractor is not involved in inmate care and the individual did not experience symptoms while at work. The contractor remains in self-isolation and is following protocols recommended by health authorities.”

The ministry memo said all work areas the contractor came into contact with “have been thoroughly cleaned and, moving forward, deep cleaning protocols have been updated and are in place at SWDC.”

Message recipients were also encouraged to wash their hands, sneeze and cough into their sleeves, avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth, avoid contact with people who are sick, and to stay home if they are ill.

The two-page memo is signed by Suzanne McGurn, the assistant deputy minister of the ministry of the solicitor general’s institutional services division.

Photo by Veronica Henri / Toronto Sun

Although some jail staff refused to work Thursday in light of coronavirus concerns, inspectors with the Ministry of Labour determined their complaints did not meet the requirements for a work refusal under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. That’s according to ministry spokesperson Janet Deline, who told the Star on Friday the investigation is now closed.