BC Ferries employee tests positive for COVID-19

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A BC Ferries employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the company confirmed Tuesday.

“Public health officials use contact tracing to ensure anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case is followed up with,” Deborah Marshall, with BC Ferries, says in a release. “If they determine there may be a broader public exposure risk, they will issue a public notification.”

UPDATE: @BCFerries says the employee that recently tested positive for #COVID19 has completed contact tracing and officials say there were no contacts involving risk or re-transmission to either fellow employees or the public. More this afternoon/evening on @NEWS1130

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) August 25, 2020

BC Ferries says the employee has completed contact tracing and officials didn’t find any contact involving risk or re-transmission to other employees or the public.

Earlier in the week, BC Ferries made it mandatory to wear a non-medical mask or face covering when at a terminal or on a vessel.

NEW #COVID19 EXPOSURE:
BC Ferries – an employee tested positive, but public notice is not being issued yet. @BCFerries says it doesn’t think there has been broad exposure.
For example, this could mean employee hasn’t worked for a little bit or worked where not many people are.

— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) August 25, 2020

That replaced a previous policy, which required passengers to have a mask while travelling and to wear it when physical distancing is not possible.

Earlier Tuesday, BC Ferries announced traffic volume is down about 20 per cent over last year, although it anticipates an increase over the Labour Day long weekend. Because of that, it advised passengers to plan ahead.

BC Ferries has also been unable to run a full summer schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO:

• BC Ferries expects more volume after COVID-19 cancels summer schedule

• BC Ferries making masks mandatory on ships, in terminals

• BC Ferries eligible for COVID-19 transit funding

• BC Ferries losing up to $1.5 million each day as pandemic tanks ridership

In May, BC Ferries reported it was losing up to $1.5 million a day as passenger volumes dropped 80 per cent from March to May.

In response to COVID-19, and additional regulations and requirements introduced by health authorities, BC Ferries instituted a number of procedures: additional cleaning between sailings; screening of passengers at the ticket booths; and physical distancing protocols.

The only exceptions for wearing masks:

• when inside a vehicle
• when consuming food or drinks, provided physical distancing is maintained
• children younger than two
• anyone with an underlying medical condition or disability that inhibits the ability to wear a mask or face covering
• people unable to place or remove a mask or face covering without assistance.