The territorySA国际影视传媒檚 jails are suspending inmate visitations in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Visitors will be barred from entering the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 three jails, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC), the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre in Hay River and the Fort Smith Correctional Complex, as officials brace for a potential outbreak.

Exceptions will be made in the event of a family death or illness, and confidential in-person meetings with lawyers, spiritual advisers and Elders will be accommodated as SA国际影视传媒渕uch as possible,SA国际影视传媒� Justice department spokesperson Sue Glowach stated in an email Tuesday.

There were no confirmed COVID-19 in the territory as of Thursday morning.

The move, mirrored in jails and prisons across Canada in the wake of the novel coronavirusSA国际影视传媒� spread, is part of enhanced health safety measures being introduced at Corrections Service-run facilities in the NWT, said Glowach.

Inmates will face additional screening upon intake with COVID-19 SA国际影视传媒渁ssessment tools,SA国际影视传媒� and hygiene practices are being ramped up, stated Glowach.

Given close-quartered living conditions, health experts have long noted inmate populationsSA国际影视传媒� susceptibility to viral outbreaks.

In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak at NWT jails, Glowach stated a SA国际影视传媒渃ontingency planSA国际影视传媒� is in place, but she wouldn't elaborate.

SA国际影视传媒淲e will not be releasing specific details of the plan SA国际影视传媒� it provides for the health and safety of the inmates, the staff and the community, as well as addressing the potential of staffing shortages," she stated.

Facilities have the means of SA国际影视传媒渋solating inmates who are symptomatic,SA国际影视传媒� and staffing levels are currently stable, stated Glowach, adding the justice department is working with the NWT Chief Public Health Office to SA国际影视传媒渄etermine the best courses of action for implementing isolation and maintaining inmate well being.SA国际影视传媒�

As per current recommendations from the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 top doctor Dr. Kami Kandola, jail staff that have recently travelled internationally or that are exhibiting CODIV-19 symptoms will be asked to self-isolate for two weeks before returning to work.