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First COVID-19 exposure reported in West Van rec centre

The District of West Vancouver has reported its first COVID-19 exposure in a community recreation fitness class.

The District of West Vancouver has reported its first COVID-19 exposure in a community recreation fitness class.

The municipality issued a statement that it had been informed by health authorities that a person who attended a fitness class at the West Vancouver Community Centre on Marine Drive had tested positive for COVID-19.

The fitness class was held in the large gymnasium, which is cleaned after every class, according to District of West Vancouver spokeswoman Michaela Garstin. The person who tested positive attended a class there Oct. 20.

The gym and adjacent washrooms were closed for two hours Friday afternoon for additional cleaning. The rest of the community centre has remained open.

Garstin said Vancouver Coastal Health will contact any close contacts of the person who tested positive.

This is the first case of a COVID-19 exposure reported in a public recreation centre on the North Shore.

Earlier in September and October, a number of COVID-19 cases were linked to the North Shore Winter Club and Hollyburn Country Club, both private recreation centres on the North Shore.

Hollyburn Country Club
The Hollyburn Country Club is scheduled to reopen on Sunday, Oct. 25 after being shut by health officials for 14 days. photo Facebook.com/HollyburnCountryClub

Hollyburn Country Club was set to reopen Sunday, Oct. 25 after being ordered by health officials to close for two weeks Oct. 10 after a number of COVID-19 cases were traced back to interactions at the club.

In a letter to members, club CEO Ed McLaughlin said health officials originally identified the tennis, karate and fine arts areas of the club as being of possible concern.

He said in the letter the club has now submitted a plan to health officials that strengthen COVID-19 protocols.

Health authorities also shut down viewing areas at the North Shore Winter Club this month after being linked to COVID-19 exposures.