Two Port Coquitlam businesses have been shut over the past two days as COVID-19 cases spike in the city and health officials prepare to vaccinate everyone over age 40.
G Force Gym is the latest business to get shut by public health teams and WorkSafeBC; on Sunday, the Port Coquitlam manufacturer Quality Saw and Knife also had its doors closed for a 10-day period after it was discovered the virus had been spreading among staff.
The closures come two weeks after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said health authorities would start to disclose the names of workplaces where three or more people have COVID-19 and transmission is likely to have occurred.
“By using targeted worksite closures around current cases of COVID-19, we may be able to avoid or delay broader workplace closure measures, which could close entire business sectors,” notes Fraser Health on its website.
The move is meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 in viral hot spots, eventually limiting community transmission.
PORT COQUITLAM NOW A 'HIGH-TRANSMISSION NEIGHBOURHOOD'
On Monday, Port Coquitlam was designated a “high-risk” community as elevated rates of COVID-19 transmission and threats to hospitalization prompted health officials to include it among 13 communities slated for a special vaccination campaign.
"Prioritizing high-transmission neighbourhoods will help protect more people against COVID-19, reduce transmission in places it is occurring and help B.C.'s hospitals continue to operate effectively through the third wave," wrote a ministry spokesperson in a press release Monday evening.
Data from the BC Centre for Disease Control released Monday indicated Port Coquitlam had an infection rate of over 275 per 100,000 people for the week ending April 17.
That puts the city among the top 10 highest infection rates of any community in the province.
Port Coquitlam residents between 40 and 55 can register for a vaccine appointment online. Residents will be offered an appointment at one of Fraser Health's special clinics on the same day you book, according to a press release from the Ministry of Health.
A GROWING LIST OF CLOSURES DUE TO COVID-19
Last week, five Tri-Cities businesses were issued similar closure notices. On April 12, the Coquitlam restaurants Joey Coquitlam, at 550 Lougheed Hwy., and The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, at 130-2991 Lougheed Hwy., were both issued closure notices.
On April 13, the McDonald's at 2330 Ottawa St. in Port Coquitlam was added to that list, and by April 14, the Fitness World at 220 Brew St. in Port Moody and the Port Coquitlam flooring company Western Canada Coatings were also told to shut down operations.
The closure notices, issued by either public health or WorkSafeBC, will remain in place for at least 10 days, notes Fraser Health.
Here’s a full list of businesses closed in the Fraser Health region:
April 19, 2021
G Force Gym: 2110-550 Sherling Ave., Port Coquitlam
April 18, 2021
Buy-Low Foods Home Office - 19580 Telegraph Tr., Surrey
Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness - Highgate Village, 300-7155 Kingsway, Highgate Mall, Burnaby
Lennox Industries - 2962 Lake City Way, Burnaby
Peregrine Retail Design Manufacturing - 3131 Production Way, Burnaby
Quality Saw and Knife - 3108-585 Seaborne Ave., Port Coquitlam
Rona - 61720-16659 Fraser Hwy., Surrey
Van Gogh Designs - 19178 34A Ave., Surrey
April 17, 2021
Golden West Baking Co. - 1111 Derwent Way, Delta
Terrastone Development - 5827 Production Way, Langley
April 16, 2021
Bonny's Taxi Ltd. - 5759 Sidley St., Burnaby
Fitness World - 13821 Central Ave., Surrey
Great Life Fitness Store - 10242 152 St., Surrey
Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centre - 3050 King George Blvd., Surrey
Tall Crane Equipment Ltd. - 22652 Fraser Hwy., Langley
Tim Hortons (#0809) - 26431 Fraser Hwy., Aldergrove
April 15, 2021
Highline Mushrooms - 3392 224th St., Langley
Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness (Brentwood) - 4199 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby
S&R Sawmills Ltd. - 19559 98A Ave., Surrey
McDonald's - 3871-10250 152 St., Surrey
Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness - 32560 Simon Ave., Abbotsford
April 14, 2021
Greystone Super Valu - 1601 Burnwood Dr., Burnaby
Fitness World, Suter Brook - 220 Brew St., Port Moody
Cheetah Transport - 9785 192 St., Surrey
My House Design Build Team - 15356 Fraser Hwy., Surrey
H&M - 10355 152 St., Surrey
Western Canada Coatings - 1160-580 Seaborne Ave., Port Coquitlam
April 13, 2021
Midland Liquidators - 19335 Langley Bypass, Surrey
CDI College – 3777 Kingsway, Burnaby
Genie Seniors Services (Moving) - 5410 Dollyvarden Lane, Chilliwack
CKF Inc. - 19878 57A Ave., Langley
McDonald's - 2330 Ottawa St., Port Coquitlam
April 12, 2021
Service BC - 175-22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Maple Ridge
Cactus Club Café - 15079 32 Ave., Surrey
24 Hour Flex Fitness Club - 213-7130 120 St., Surrey
Evergreen Kitchen Cabinets - 118-119, 12651 80th Ave., Surrey
Blue Pearl Mortgage - 200-5570 152 St., Surrey
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar - 130-2991 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam
Lago Marketing - 19652 86 Ave., Langley City
Sasquatch Mountain Resort - 20955 Hemlock Valley Rd., Agassiz
One Stop Kitchen Idea Ltd. - 12989 80 Ave., Surrey
Bobby Hair Studio - 120-5738 175th St., Surrey
Joey Coquitlam - 550 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam
Foot Locker (Guildford Mall) - 10355 152 St., Surrey
