It appears businesses in the north are adhering to provincial restrictions and guidelines.
On April 8, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry implemented a new public health order that expedites temporary closures when three or more employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and transmission has been confirmed at the workplace.
It empowers WorkSafeBC to issue the closure order for 10 days or longer and work with businesses to review and enhance their COVID-19 safety plans. In larger workplaces like construction sites, the closure may only affect one area or team.
Public health will assess whether essential workplaces like fire halls, grocery stores and pharmacies should remain open, but they will be supported in other ways, she told a news conference.
The strategy aims to avoid sector-wide closures, which Henry said are "really a blunt tool" for combating infections.
"In these ways, we can keep people working safely and augment the measures already in place," she said.
It's also directed that workplace closures be posted publicly on health authority websites.
The good news is, to date, Northern Health hasn't had any businesses that have had to close under the new provincial health order.
WorkSafeBC says when a closure is issued to an affected workplace, they will help the employer understand that they need to review their COVID-19 safety plan and make any changes during closure periods.
"Once the workplace has re-opened, WorkSafeBC will conduct a COVID-19 safety inspection to review the employer’s COVID-19 Safety Plan and ensure the employer is effectively implementing measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace," WorkSafeBC says on its website.
As of this publication (April 27), Northern Health has a recorded case total of 7,080 since March 14, 2020.
There are currently 263 active cases throughout the region.
There are 18 people in hospital, six of which are in critical care or ICU.
The BCCDC says there have been 140 lives lost in the region due to COVID-19.
- with files from The Canadian Press
