THUNDER BAY — A recent outbreak of COVID-19 involving CP railway employees in Thunder Bay and Schreiber has resulted in the implementation of enhanced safety protocols.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit, CP, and the Teamsters Union have not disclosed how many workers have been affected.
A person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told TBNewswatch at least half a dozen are involved, and that a number of other workers were taken off the job pending test results.
CP spokesperson Salem Woodrow said the railway is "engaging" with the TBDHU concerning the cases.
Woodrow said CP "already had stringent COVID-19 measures in place for all employees including mandatory face coverings in all common areas and whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained, including in vehicles and cabs."
However another source said train crews working in close proximity had not been wearing face masks consistently prior to the outbreak, as the measure was not enforced.
A spokesperson for the health unit said it's still investigating the situation, and that the railway is cooperating.
He said employees exposed to the virus have been instructed to self-isolate, and that enhanced infection prevention and control measures have now been implemented by the company.
