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Fraser Health shutters Burnaby office after COVID-19 cluster

Robertson Electric Wholesale was closed yesterday (May 6)
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(via Getty Images)

Another Burnaby business has been shut down by Fraser Health after the discovery of a cluster of COVID-19 cases. 

Robertson's Electic Wholesale office is the area affected and was closed yesterday (May 6). 

Other current Burnaby closures include the Fitness World location in Lougheed Town Centre and ABC Recycling, 8081 Meadow Ave. (partial closure includes yard site for machinery operators).

Both businesses were issued closure notices on May 2, 2021.

On April 8, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry implemented a new public health order that expedites temporary closures when three or more employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and transmission has been confirmed at the workplace. 

It empowers WorkSafeBC to issue the closure order for 10 days or longer and work with businesses to review and enhance their COVID-19 safety plans. In larger workplaces like construction sites, the closure may only affect one area or team.

Public health will assess whether essential workplaces like fire halls, grocery stores and pharmacies should remain open, but they will be supported in other ways, she told a news conference.

The strategy aims to avoid sector-wide closures, which Henry said are "really a blunt tool" for combating infections.

"In these ways, we can keep people working safely and augment the measures already in place," she said. 

It's also directed that workplace closures be posted publicly on health authority websites. 

- with files from The Canadian Press