LNG Canada Struck by Covid-19 Outbreak

BC’s Northern Health Authority (NHA) confirmed November 19 a Covid-19 outbreak at the Anglo-Dutch Shell-led LNG Canada project site at Kitimat, on the province’s northern coast.

To date, the authority said, 14 employees have tested positive for the virus, and all infections occurred in the same general work area. It did not specify whether the outbreak was at the LNG Canada work site or at one of the many open camps in the area.

Work on the LNG Canada project has already been set back by about nine months by Covid-19 measures implemented earlier this year by the BC government. It’s not known whether this outbreak will impact the project’s schedule.

The NHA, with the assistance of LNG Canada and its prime contractor, JGC Fluor, are continuing with contact tracing protocols. So far, 32 employees remain in self-isolation at the site, while the rest are self-isolating in their home communities.

“Our efforts are currently focused on the recovery of these affected individuals, the disinfection and sanitisation of the impacted work areas, and the well-being of all project workers,” LNG Canada and JGC Fluor said in a joint statement. “As well, we remain committed to protecting the health and safety of the First Nations and community stakeholders neighbouring our project site in Kitimat and Terrace.”

The NHA said the outbreak declaration will remain in place for at least 28 days.