There is now an outbreak of COVID-19 linked to Canada Post’s main plant in Calgary, according to Alberta Health Services.
There is now an outbreak of COVID-19 linked to Canada Post’s main plant in Calgary, Alberta Health Services officials said Friday.
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said six cases have now been linked to the facility. The main sorting facility for Canada Post in Calgary is located near the airport, at 1100 49th Ave. N.E.
“What happens in any outbreak … the cases are identified and asked questions when they start to have symptoms,” Hinshaw said during a press conference. “Anyone who is a close contact would be required to be home in self-isolation for 14 days.”
A spokesperson with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said the announcement would make this the first outbreak at a Canada Post facility.
“There have been confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst postal workers in other areas of the country, some at the same Canada Post facilities,” said Btihal Yaaqoubi with CUPW in an email to CBC News. “However, this is the first instance where public health authorities have described the situation as a ‘confirmed outbreak.’
“We are investigating this claim by public health as we have not received any evidence that there is a spread within the Canada Post facility.”
Canada Post said the cases occurred at separate times over a three-week period dating back to April 20, adding that some