All staff and inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary are being tested for COVID-19 after a close contact of a correctional officer tested positive for the virus.

The news of the positive case and the decision to test everyone was made last night.

The officer in question was last at work on February 7 and was already self-isolating. To date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff or inmates in any of the province’s correctional facilities.

As a result of the community spread in the St. John’s-metro area, less than two dozen Pen employees are away from work in self-isolation. Most of these employees are nearing the end of their isolation period and are expected back to work in the coming days.

Officials say HMP staffing is still at normal levels.