Northern Health declared a second COVID-19 outbreak at the LNG Canada project site in Kitimat on Thursday.
Public health officials found evidence of transmission between staff of Diversified Transportation working at the site. As of Thursday, 15 employees had tested positive for the disease, with 13 of the cases being active.
The roughly 40 Diversified Transportation employees working at the site have been tested, a statement by Northern Health said, and those identified as cases and close contacts have been ordered to self-isolate.
The new COVID-19 outbreak at the LNG Canada site isn't related to a previous outbreak declared on Nov. 19. A total of 56 COVID-19 cases were linked to that outbreak, but no new cases have been reported since Dec. 2.
"Northern Health, LNG Canada, and JGC Fluor (the prime contractor on the project) have been working together on planning, preparing and implementing COVID-19 measures since early spring," Northern Health's statement said. "Along with Diversified Transportation, close collaboration continues on ensuring enhanced control measures are followed to prevent transmission of illness among the Diversified workforce, and to the overall LNGC project site and neighbouring communities."
