An employee with BC Ferries has tested positive for COVID-19.
On Tuesday afternoon, BC Ferries issued a statement saying one of their employees informed them that they had tested positive for the coronavirus.
BC Ferries, however, did not disclose information such as whether the employee worked onboard a vessel or a terminal or when the employee notified them about the positive test.
The ferry operator said health officials will issue a public notification if they determine there is a “broader public exposure risk.”
Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries executive director of public affairs, told CHEK in a statement that they “don’t have anything further to add at this time.”
BC Ferries did tweet Tuesday afternoon that public health officials use contact tracing to ensure anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case is notified.
Island Health does say on its website it will provide updates on the locations and times of known possible exposures to COVID-19 to the public in the region when they have been unable to reach or identify all individuals potentially exposed via contact tracing.
Later on Tuesday, BC Ferries said the employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has now completed contact tracing and a health authority has determined that there were “no contacts involving risk or re-transmission to either fellow employees or the public.”
It’s not the first time BC Ferries has disclosed that one of their employees tested positive for the coronavirus.
Back in March, the ferry operator provided more information when they announced an employee had tested positive.
At the time, they disclosed that the employee worked on the Spirit of British Columbia vessel on March 9 and 10, although they were not was showing any symptoms while they were at work.
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The recent announcement that a ferry employee tested positive comes one day after BC Ferries’ mandatory mask policy came into effect. All walk-on and vehicle passengers must wear non-medical masks or face coverings at a BC Ferries terminal or on a BC Ferries vessel.
However, there is an exception if a customer is inside a vehicle or consuming food or drinks while maintaining a physical distance.
Customers with an underlying medical condition or disability that inhibits the ability to wear a face covering, those who are unable to place or remove a face covering without assistance, and children under two years of age do not need to wear a mask.
BC Ferries are also required to wear face masks or coverings, except those working behind a physical barrier or within employee-only areas while maintaining an appropriate physical distance.
BC Ferries has other measures in place, including signs for physical distancing, screening customers on arrival at the ticket booth, allowing customers to remain in their vehicles on all decks during the sailing, enhanced cleaning, physical barriers and reduced seating density.
@ArtistMiesje Hi there – Public health officials use contact tracing to ensure anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case is followed up with. If they determine there may be a broader public exposure risk, they will issue a public notification. ^mg
— BC Ferries | Travel safe. Wear a mask. (@BCFerries) August 25, 2020
@Kfavulous The employee that tested positive for COVID-19 has now completed ‘contact tracing’ through the Health Authority and they have determined that there were no contacts involving risk or re-transmission to either fellow employees or the public. ^js
— BC Ferries | Travel safe. Wear a mask. (@BCFerries) August 26, 2020
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