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Out of fear of COVID-19, guards at the Ottawa jail refused to work the morning shift on Tuesday over a lack of screening for anyone entering the jail, according to their union.

Some inmates told this newspaper on Tuesday that they’ve been denied tests and tension is rising at the notorious Innes Road jail.

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Inmates are concerned that the virus may already be in the jail, but nobody knows for sure because they’re not being tested.

The locked-down inmates on Tuesday were fed by managers and their video conferences with lawyers were cancelled.

Ryan Graham, Ontario Public Service Employees Union local president, said guards refused to enter the jail on Tuesday and noted in a statement that the union has been pressing the Ministry of the Solicitor General for COVID-19 screening measures for anyone going into the province’s jails.

Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia

Graham said the measures are needed soon in order to protect both guards and inmates from the novel coronavirus getting inside. He said managers performed guards’ duties until the correctional workers returned to work Tuesday afternoon.