North Van construction site reopens after COVID outbreak closure

A North Vancouver construction site that was shut down by health authorities for six days following an outbreak of COVID-19 has been allowed to re-start work again.

Vancouver Coastal Health lifted a closure order on Domus Homes’ 64-unit rental project in central Lonsdale May 27. The health authority had previously closed the site where a mid-rise rental project is under construction at 127 East 12th St. on May 21.

To reopen, businesses are required to have a workplace assessment and update their COVID -19 safety plan to be current with the latest provincial health officer order, according to VCH.

Last month, the health authority also halted construction on rental towers being built by Syncra Construction at Park Royal for a COVID outbreak April 29. Earlier in April, the Cactus Club Cafe restaurant in Park Royal and Wish Dry Bar hair salon in West Vancouver were also temporarily closed for COVID outbreaks among staff.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s policy is to shut down any business with three or more positive COVID-19 cases among staff with likely transmission in the workplace “unless it is in the overriding public interest to keep it open.”

VCH says closures typically last 10 days but reopening is subject to approval by the local medical health officer.