Eight staff, 60 inmates test positive for COVID-19 at Brampton jail. Inmates transferred to Toronto South Detention Centre

Eight staff and 60 inmates at a Brampton jail have tested positive for COVID-19 in by far the largest outbreak reported so far in an Ontario provincial correctional institution, according to the Ministry of the Solicitor-General.

The Ontario Correctional Institute is being closed temporarily and all inmates are being transferred to the Toronto South Detention Centre, where they will be kept in a separate area.

All staff from OCI are being asked by Peel Public Health to self-isolate for the next 14 days.

Three correctional officers from OCI tested positive for COVID-19 last week; until Monday, the ministry had not reported any positive tests among inmates.

Following the guards' tests last week, inmates who were showing symptoms were "rush-tested," with some placed in segregation units before being transferred to the Toronto South Detention Centre. All 140 inmates at the jail were tested over the weekend, according to inmates.

The jail is a treatment facility focused on providing treatment for addictions, sexual offending and mental health.

More to come.

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and court. Email her at ahasham@thestar.ca. Follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati