The Elizabeth Fry Society has written government asking for immediate action in preventing the spread of the Omicron variant in the province’s prison system.

Among the measures that they’re calling on government to take are the release of non-violent inmates and those who are being held on remand, and the depopulation of prisons to allow appropriate social distancing.

They’re also calling on government to prioritize staff and inmates for vaccination and booster shots, and implement effective and humane public health measures inside prisons.

Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society, Michelle Voisey says while there are no specific numbers available for inmates who could be released, it would be fairly significant given the general makeup of the local prison population.

She says there is a high number of people currently held in custody pending sentencing—the majority of whom are non-violent. “Those people can be managed in the community,” according to Voisey.