Teck Resources confirms 25 cases of COVID-19 at its sites in East Kootenay

British Columbia's largest mining company,Teck Resources Ltd., has reported 25 cases ofCOVID-19at two of its coal mines and a construction project in the Elk Valley in the province's East Kootenay region.

The company said Tuesday there are sevencases at the Fording River mine north of Elkford, B.C.,as well as 14 cases at a construction project next toto the Fording River mine. It said there arefour more cases at the Elkview mine, east of Sparwood.

"Teck has implemented enhanced response protocols and preventative measures to safeguard workers and local communities," the company said in astatement.

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Some of the preventative measures include mandating the use ofC95 or KN95 respirators for visitors and employeesworking indoors, reducing the workforce at the Fording River water treatment plant construction site and reducing the number of people staying at a housing facility for workers, according to the company.

"Teck is working closely with public health authorities and has taken all necessary steps to manage the risk of transmission, including tracing all potential contacts, disinfecting work areas, and directing all employees and contractors to self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate if required," the statement read.

'Let's hope it stays where it is'

The company has contactedthe Districtof Sparwoodand the District of Elkford to inform the municipalitieson its response tothe COVID-19 cases, according to the mayors of each community.

ElkfordMayor Dean McKerrachersaid he believes the company is dealing with the cases "the best that it can."

"There's not very many cases actually in the [Elk] valley and they are isolating at home, as far as I know," he said.

SparwoodMayor David Wilks said he wasn't surprised there are cases of the disease at the mines and construction site because of the large number of people working there.

"At least Teck istaking active measures to contain it," Wilks said. "Let'shopethat it stayswhere it is."

Wilks said he isreassured by the measures the company is taking to stop the spread of the disease, but he is unhappy that hehad to learn about thecasesfrom Teck and not from the province or the BC Centre for Disease Control.

"I think they could better identify where theCOVIDoutbreaks are as opposed to clustering them into a certain area. That doesn't help us," he said. "I think they could be much more proactive."

Earlier this year, East Kootenay mayors expressed worry that an outbreak among Teck workers could spread to communities in the region.

In August, the provinceannounced a COVID-19 outbreak at Teck's construction site near Elkford.