B.C. mayors worry Teck work camp could spread COVID-19 through the Kootenays

Doctors and mayors in British Columbia's EastKootenays say they're concerned abouta local work camp that houses hundreds of people, fearing itcould spread COVID-19 throughout the region.

Teck Resources operates the camp near Elkford in southeastern B.C. near the Alberta border. It can house more than 400contractors and out-of-town workers employed at four coal mines in the surrounding Elk Valley.

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks, along with the mayors of Fernie and Elkford, saythe transient nature of the workers at the camp poses the biggest threat of spreading the novel coronavirus.

Wilks added that officials recognizethe economic importance of Teck facilities in the valley, but therisk of spreading COVID-19 outweighs those benefits.

Provincial orders don't apply

While doctors are urging the Elkford camp to shut down, the mayors are asking Teck to at least review the camp and delay upgrades to one of itsnearby facilitiesuntil the virus is under control.

The province's health orders to minimize the spreadof COVID-19 don't apply to construction and large industrial sites.

Teck says it has put measures in place to protect employee safety, including health screening for all visitors, enhanced disinfecting protocols and spacing out meal times to ensure workers stay more than two metres apart to abide by social distancing.

The company also says there haven't been any cases of COVID-19 at any of its facilities. Teck says the camp is currently under-capacity, with only 70 per cent of it occupied.