Fraser Health has closed down more Burnaby workplaces due to COVID-19 cases.
The latest, as of May 3, includes the Fitness World location in Lougheed Town Centre and ABC Recycling, 8081 Meadow Ave. (partial closure includes yard site for machinery operators).
Allwest Insurance's Burnaby location has been closed temporarily due to COVID-19 exposure.
The closure date has been listed by Fraser Health as of April 30, 2021.
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.
Other businesses listed by Fraser Health this afternoon (May 3, 2021), all with closure dates of May 3, are as follows:
- Weatherguard Exteriors - B145-5525 272 St., Langley
- English Bay Chocolate Factory in Delta (partial closure includes processing facility)
- Go Dodge Surrey - 6280 120 St., Surrey
- Only the service department affected
- Indian River Transport Ltd. - 20353 64 Ave., Langley
- Only the office affected
- with files from The Canadian Press and Jess Fedigan
