Slight Increase to LNG Canada Covid-19 Outbreak

The Covid-19 outbreak at the LNG Canada construction site on BC’s northern coast increased by two cases between December 1 and December 8, to 56 from 54, the province’s Northern Health authority said in a December 9 update.

Since the authority declared the outbreak on November 19, the number of Covid-19 cases associated with the LNG Canada work site near Kitimat has increased from the initial 14 cases. However, only six cases remain active, all of whom are self-isolating off-site or in their home communities.

“Northern Health, LNG Canada, and JGC Fluor continue to work closely together to ensure enhanced control measures are followed, to protect the health of all staff,” the authority said in its update. “On-site screening of employees, contact management and tracing are continuing, and there continue to be no public exposures in Kitimat and the surrounding area at this time.”

Despite media reports of some LNG Canada employees, or those working for its prime contractor, JGC Fluor, suggesting Covid-19 mitigation protocols are not being followed, the consortium, led by Anglo-Dutch major Shell, says its on-site medical facilities are staffed by more than a dozen healthcare professionals available to workers around the clock.

The medical team works out of three on-site medical clinics and consists of two nurse practitioners, three registered nurses, seven emergency response team members, of which three are primary care paramedics, and four advanced care paramedics who provide around-the-clock medical services.

Additionally, isolation wings have been established at Cedar Valley Lodge, LNG Canada’s on-site workforce accommodation facility. Those isolation wings are staffed with non-medical personal care attendants to assist any workers in isolation.