More infections of the coronavirus have been found at two work accommodation sites in northern B.C. connected to the Coastal GasLink project.
According to Northern Health, six more cases have been detected since an outbreak was declared on Sunday (Dec. 20) for the 7 Mile and Little Rock Lake lodges, increasing the total to 33.
This includes 18 active cases among the workers, one new since the weekend announcement, most of whom are said to be self-isolating in their own homes.
Northern Health says a 'small number' of workers are isolating at the lodges, located in the Burns Lake and Nechako local health areas respectively.
By public health order, the authority adds the sites are being limited to essential workers only to ensure safe operation until public health approves COVID-19 safety plans for restarting project work.
"Northern Health is working with Coastal Gas Link, and Pacific Atlantic Pipeline Construction (PAPC), which is the prime contractor at the 7 Mile Lodge and Little Rock Lake Lodge work sites, in response to the outbreak to ensure enhanced control measures are followed to protect the health of employees, and of the communities where they live and work," a statement reads.
The declaration is expected to remain in place for 28 days from the last lab-confirmed case was found.
As of this publication (Dec. 23), Northern Health has recorded 1,652 COVID-19 infections since March, including 31 new ones from the last 24 hours.
This includes 16 deaths, 18 people in critical care among 51 total hospitalizations, and 1,152 recoveries.
