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BC Hydro notified of three positive COVID-19 cases related to 1,100-MW Site C project

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BC Hydro notified of three positive COVID-19 cases related to 1,100-MW Site C project

BC Hydro has been notified of three positive COVID-19 cases related to people working on the 1,100-MW Site C hydroelectric project, under construction on the Peace River in British Columbia, Canada.

Health officials have confirmed that none of the cases originated at the site, according to a press release.

The first worker has not been to the site since being exposed and testing positive. The second worker returned to work for two days last week after being exposed off-site and later tested positive upon returning home. Both workers are isolating at home.

A third worker developed symptoms two days after arriving at the site last week and subsequently tested positive. This case is unrelated to the other two cases and this worker remains isolated at camp under the care of the on-site medical clinic.

Site C contact tracing has been completed and, as a precautionary measure, two additional people are isolating in camp.

Health officials have confirmed that these three new cases are unrelated to the two isolated cases that were announced the week of Oct. 12. Hydro Review previously reported a worker tested positive at the site in July 2020.

Site C involves the construction of an earthfill dam spanning more than 1 km that rises 60 m over the riverbed. The principal civil engineering contract also includes major auxiliary works such as construction of 5 km of cofferdams and the two recently completed river diversion tunnels, as well as temporary access roads and bridges.

BC Hydro says it has been monitoring COVID-19 closely since early 2020 and has continuously implemented measures to minimize the risk of transmission to, or within, site. These include health screening before accessing the site, enhanced cleaning throughout the worker accommodation, mandatory mask use in camp and construction offices, and adherence to physical distancing rules throughout the site.

BC Hydro says it continues to work with the Northern Health Authority and strictly follow all federal and provincial health guidelines to protect other workers in the camp and the local community.