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Interior Health reports COVID-19 outbreak at West Kelowna Agricultural Business

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
April 1st, 2020

In a media release Tuesday, Interior Health said it is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 illness involving a group of temporary foreign workers residing in housing at a West Kelowna agricultural business.

“On March 27, an IH Medical Health Officer placed an order on Bylands Nurseries Ltd. A group of temporary foreign workers residing in on site housing are to remain in quarantine on the property until the Medical Health Officer provides alternate direction,” the IH release said.

“This followed confirmation of COVID-19 cases among this group.”

In a follow-up media release, Interior Health said there are 75 total workers involved – 63 migrant and 12 local workers. IH said 14 have tested positive for COVID-19, with additional results of test pending.

Interior Health said the MHO is confident that the risk of exposure to the general public is low. None of the workers were in roles that interact with customers and members of this group had very minimal contact in the community. 

Interior Health said the business is currently closed to customers.

“The workers live on the site in good housing accommodations, which provide space for individuals to be self-isolated safely,” IH said.

“Bylands Nurseries Ltd has been fully cooperative with IH through this process.”

Interior Health said the cases may be linked to a group of workers who arrived in Kelowna from outside of Canada on March 12.

Interior Health said, the MHO order is this case applies to Bylands Nurseries Ltd., only, and not Bylands Garden Centre – which is a separate business.

Interior Health said the owner of Bylands Garden Centre has also elected to close operations, voluntarily.

The BCCDC website is the recommended resource for accurate, current COVID-19 information for British Columbians. The site is being updated frequently and individuals are encouraged to check back often.

Interior Health also has frequently updated information on the COVID-19 page on the Interior Health website.

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