The Department of Justice and Public Safety says it is considering all options to keep inmates safe and prevent COVID-19 from entering correctional facilities.

In a statement, the Department says visitation and programming offered by external facilitators has been temporarily suspended.

Personal Protective Equipment and additional hand sanitizers have been placed in every institution. Further, the Department says an area of quarantine is being prepared and a decision on inmate care will be made in consultation with medical professionals.

Adult Corrections management is monitoring the situation and considering temporary absences for some offenders, like those serving intermittent sentences.

That’s being evaluated on a case-by-case basis using appropriate risk assessment.

For inmates on remand, bail reviews are an option should they request.

For an accused who has already been denied release, they can apply for a bail review at the Supreme Court.