Interior Health, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and other partners including PHAC and Alberta Health are investigating a COVID-19 outbreak at a construction site on a water treatment plant adjacent to Teck Fording River Operations near Elkford.

Seven people associated with construction of the water treatment facility have subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to their home communities.

Six of the workers reside in Alberta and one resides on Vancouver Island.

Teck reports all positives cases are members of a night-shift construction crew who worked between August 4 and August 18. Four were staying at the employee lodge in Elkford, three at private accommodations. Twelve further tests of workers in close contact have come back negative and five results are outstanding.

Although the worksite is in the Interior, no cases are currently linked to Interior Health or the surrounding communities.

“At this time we do not believe there is a risk to the public, however we are actively investigating and will provides updates if the situation evolves,” Interior Health reported Aug. 27.

Though the outbreak is linked to a water treatment facility, water quality is not impacted at this site.

Teck is working closely with health authorities in British Columbia and Alberta to support efforts to mitigate the risk of any further transmission. We are focused on safeguarding the health and safety of workers and communities and have put in place comprehensive prevention measures across our sites aligned with guidance from public health agencies.

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