BC Ferries staff member tests positive for coronavirus

A BC Ferries staff member has tested positive for coronavirus, the company has confirmed.

In a statement to Daily Hive, BC Ferries said the employee “notified us they tested positive for COVID-19. Public health officials use contact tracing to ensure anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case is followed up with.”

In the meantime, “in response to COVID-19 and additional regulations and requirements introduced by health authorities,” BC Ferries said it has instituted a “number of procedures.”

• See also:
  • Masks are now mandatory on BC Ferries
  • Coronavirus outbreak declared at Langley Memorial Hospital
  • Dr. Henry addresses idea of reimplementing previous coronavirus restrictions

These procedures, the company said, include additional cleaning between sailings, screening of passengers at the ticket booths, physical distancing protocols, and as of Monday, mandatory requirement for face coverings while at terminals and on vessels.

BC Ferries did not specify which department the employee works in, or when they were notified, adding only that if it’s determined that there may be a broader risk to the public, then a public notification will be issued.

In a follow-up on Tuesday afternoon, BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall told Daily Hive 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.”