Policy bulletin 682

Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 822 – Medical Isolation and Modified Routine for COVID-19

The health, safety and well-being of employees and offenders have been paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, CD 822 –Medical Isolation and Modified Routine for COVID-19 was provisionally promulgated in July 2020 with concurrent internal and external consultations to provide direction to staff on the use of medical isolation and modified routine for health purposes in a timely manner.

This revised policy reflects feedback received during consultation as well as lessons learned with respect to the use of medical isolation and modified routine for health purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following outlines the major changes to CD 822:

• The criteria for medical isolation are provided in the Health Services algorithms and the Integrated Risk Management Framework rather than in the policy itself. The CD provides a hyperlink to these documents.
• A requirement has been added for the development of an institutional Standing Order on medical isolation and modified routine for health purposes that includes a process for communicating to impacted individuals the parameters of a modified routine for health purposes, upon its implementation.
• Introduction of a provision that, in the absence of a registered health care professional, the Institutional Head will authorize interim placement on medical isolation which will be confirmed by a registered health care professional once on site.
• Addition of documentation requirements for the provision of the procedural fairness requirements on the Medical Isolation Form (CSC/SCC 1620e).
• Creation of a Daily Log – Medical Isolation (CSC/SCC 1627e) to document daily visits to inmates on medical isolation.
• Addition of a provision that individuals will be provided access to educational materials, programming and spiritual services in accordance with the Integrated Risk Management Framework while on medical isolation.
• Addition of a requirement that individuals be provided their personal property, subject to safety and security concerns, and in consideration of infection prevention and control principles, while on medical isolation.
• Addition of documentation requirements for provision of the procedural fairness requirements for individuals on modified routine for health purposes on the newly created Modified Routine for Health Purposes Form (CSC/SCC 1626e).
• Addition of a provision that individuals on modified routine for health purposes will be provided access to educational materials, programming and spiritual services in accordance with the Integrated Risk Management Framework.

The revised policy was developed by the Health Services Sector, following formal consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Applies to CSC staff and contractors working in institutions, excluding Community Correctional Centres.