New measures in place for Northern Work Camps as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise

With reports of COVID-19 continuing to increase at work camp sites across Northern British Columbia, the Province's Top Public Health Officer outlined some additional measures now in place to address the issue and work towards reducing the pace of infection.

The order was announced by Doctor Bonnie Henry, speaking at Wednesday's COVID-19 update.

“Today, a new PHO order for industrial camps in the Northern Health region has been put in place. This order will allow for a phased approach to resuming activities at these projects, while protecting health and safety and protecting the health-care system. 

The nature of an industrial work camp means employees frequently travel to and from these work camps. At the start of the year, these camps typically have an influx of employees returning to the site. Combined, these factors mean a higher potential for spread amongst employees and in their home communities. 

We are already seeing many small, rural and remote communities in the North under strain. This order will help ease the pressure at the start of the year."

The full scope of those measures have not as of yet been posted to the Public Health Orders and Notices archive page hosted by the Provincial Government.

The moves come with case reports from the Nechako Valley this week at two work force accommodation locations for the Coastal Gas Link Project.

Earlier this week Northern Health relayed the background towards a second outbreak of COVID as part of the LNG Canada worksite near Kitimat.

You can review the latest provincial update on COVID-19 from Wednesday afternoon here, while our archive of COVID-19 themes traces the course of the coronavirus since January.