Articles & News

April 3, 2008

Flu keeps Lindsay jail locked down

Posted By GALEN EAGLE/Examiner Staff Writer

Ontario, Canada - A lockdown at Central East Correctional Centre continues to clog Peterborough courts, as officials attempt to stop the spread of a weeklong stomach flu outbreak.

Inmates began showing symptoms last Thursday and by Monday, 40 of the institution’s 1,100 inmates were inflicted with a stomach virus.

Another 15 have been added to that total since, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services spokesman Stuart McGetrick said.

No inmates are allowed to leave the prison, appearing in court via video remand instead. The facility is diverting some of its newcomers to other institutions while the lockdown continues, McGetrick said.

Some local lawyers with clients expected to go into custody yesterday asked for weeklong adjournments to keep their clients away from the Lindsay jail.

The Ontario Court of Justice closed its plea court in mid-afternoon yesterday, normally one of its busiest days of the week, after wrapping up the out-of-custody cases.

Bail court, however, was inundated with the increased number of video appearances.

Officials are not giving a timeline for the end of the lockdown, saying it appears to take four days for individuals to recover after catching the bug.

"We’re assessing the situation continuously," McGetrick said. "It’s going to take us a good few days to get through this for sure."

geagle@peterboroughexaminer.com