Health officials are reporting the first outbreak of COVID-19 at a jail in B.C.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says an inmate has tested positive at the Okanagan Correctional Centre, south of Penticton, saying that inmate tested positive last night.

“The person who became ill was isolated, and the people in the pod that he was in are all being monitored now. So far there’s no other cases, but it takes time, as we know, after an exposure where people can develop this disease. So ongoing outbreak protocols are in place. It’s always challenging in these closed environments. The Corrections team from PHSA and Interior Health are working on this, even as we speak,” Henry says.

“In terms of non-violent offenders being released from correctional facilities and detention centres, that is an issue that’s with the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.”

NL News reached to the Ministry earlier today asking if non-violent inmates have been released, and we are still awaiting a response.

Henry shared that news while announcing six new deaths and 55 new cases. Three deaths have been reported in the Vancouver area, one in the Fraser Health region and the first two fatalities on Vancouver Island.

There have now been 1,121 cases of the virus reported province-wide, including 121 in the Interior Health region. There have been seven new IHA cases reported since yesterday.

Dr. Henry has also asked today for people not to make non-essential trips in B.C., particularly to remote areas of the province. This comes after reports people fleeing possible exposure to the virus by travelling to more remote, less-populated areas, including reports by NL News of travellers going to Bella Coola and Bella Bella.