All inmates and staff at Mission Institution being tested for COVID-19
An inmate at the federal prison died from COVID-19 complications earlier this month
Fraser Health says all inmates and staff at the Mission Institution will be tested for COVID-19.
The medium-security prison is the site of the largest outbreak of the virus at a federal institution in Canada.
A total of 64 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 along with 11 staff.
Earlier this month, an inmate died of apparent COVID-19 complications after being taken to Abbotsford Regional Hospital. The identity of the inmate has not been released. Correctional Services Canada has said this is the first such death at one of its correctional institutions.
Dr. Victoria Lee with Fraser Health said testing would also include non-correctional staff, such as maintenance workers.
"Very grateful for the nurses that have volunteered to do this," said Lee.
She said the testing will take place Wednesday and Thursday.
To date, the federal agency says a total of 105 tests of inmates have been conducted, 27 have returned negative results, 12 are pending, two are inconclusive.
The health authority says infection control teams have gone into the medium-security prison to make recommendations on disease prevention and control.
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