The fleet maintenance facility at the federal dockyard is being sanitized and contact tracing carried out after three cases of COVID-19 were detected at Canadian Forces Base in Esquimalt this week.
In an emailed statement, Lt.-Cmdr. Tony Wright., spokesman for Maritime Forces Pacific, confirmed the first case was identified Wednesday and two others on Friday.
“In accordance with established procedures and B.C. Public Health guidelines, the facility adopted a minimum manning posture on Thursday,” he said, noting some critical maintenance is continuing in the fleet.
All three individuals have been identified as civilian defence team members who worked closely together.
“Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton is currently being sanitized, while we gather more information and continue to assess the situation,” Wright said. Contact tracing and testing are being carried out by public health.
Island Health has also identified COVID-19 exposure risk at Stelly’s Secondary School in Saanich, and Nanaimo District Secondary and Brechin Elementary in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith district.
The dates of exposure are Feb. 1 at Stelly’s and Brechin and Jan. 28 at Nanaimo District Secondary.
According to Island Health, anyone who may have had a high-risk exposure will be contacted by public health and instructed to self-isolate.
Those are not contacted should continue to attend school as long as they are not experiencing any symptoms.
There have been 15 school exposures reported in Island districts over the past 14 days.
