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Home News COVID-19 outbreak declared at La Ronge RCMP detachment

COVID-19 outbreak declared at La Ronge RCMP detachment

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COVID-19 outbreak declared at La Ronge RCMP detachment
RCMP file photo

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) declared an outbreak of COVID-19 in the workplace at the La Ronge RCMP detachment in northern Saskatchewan on Monday. 

The outbreak remains listed as active by the SHA. RCMP were not immediately available to answer questions by press time on Wednesday and responded in writing Thursday morning.

“We respect our employees’ right to privacy and will not be identifying the names or the number of employees affected, as we would do for any other member of the public,” RCMP told the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

“Resources from other Saskatchewan RCMP detachments and units will be immediately deployed to La Ronge if the need arises.”

RCMP said they currently have enough civilian employees and police officers available at the La Ronge detachment and there are protocols in place for staff to maintain operations.

Protocols are now in place at the La Ronge detachment to reduce the risk of transmission and officers are responding to calls for service. 

Those protocols include social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. Police vehicles are routinely disinfected as per current health authority instructions, the RCMP wrote.

The Saskatchewan RCMP said it will “continue to follow” directions from SHA officials with respect to “any potential exposure” to COVID-19 and to ensure “proper monitoring and notification protocols.”

“All RCMP officers and employees have been actively encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as they are able,” the Saskatchewan RCMP said in response to follow-up questions.

“As for a federal (vaccine) mandate, our understanding is this is under development.”

The RCMP detachment location is the only active outbreak in La Ronge at this time.

This report was updated on September 23, 2021 to include response from the Saskatchewan RCMP