This article was published in November 2020 and may be outdated.
Manitoba Hydro reports no new cases of workers testing positive for COVID-19 today at the Keeyask Generating Station.
As reported Thursday, a total of 24 workers have received positive tests for COVID-19. Another eight workers have tested “not clear” on an initial PCR screening test and are waiting for the results of a second test processed by the Cadham Provincial Lab.
A total of 132 close contacts of workers, who either received a confirmed positive test or a “not clear” through the preliminary PCR screening test, are being isolated. Thirty-nine workers are isolating in special dorms at the Keeyask site and, following health guidelines, the remainder are self-isolating off-site.
The corporation made the precautionary decision to test the entire workforce October 26, a day after receiving the first confirmed positive COVID test of a worker at the project site.
The workforce at Keeyask has decreased from more than 760 workers to approximately 575 with another 50 to 80 expected to leave depending on whether they decide to extend their current rotations. No new workers have travelled to site since October 30.
An additional 50 workers will be brought to Keeyask this weekend to continue critical work including commissioning of the first generator unit, the winterization of site and the safe operation of camp infrastructure. Those workers will only be allowed to travel to site once they’ve completed self-isolation and passed a COVID-19 screening test.
Extensive measures to protect workers and neighbouring communities from the spread of COVID-19 are in place at site, following the guidelines of the project’s pandemic response plan and recommendations from public health authorities.
For more on Manitoba Hydro’s response to COVID-19 at Keeyask, including a complete list of all current measures in place, the project’s pandemic response plan and additional information on the temporary workforce reduction, visit the Keeyask website.
For more information, please contact:
Bruce Owen – Media Relations Officer
204-794-8270
bowen@hydro.mb.ca
Scott Powell — Director, Corporate Communications
204-360-4417
Cell. 204-299-8849
spowell@hydro.mb.ca