An employee at a Pemberton cannabis production facility tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, leading to a temporary suspension of operations, confirmed Aurora Cannabis.
On Aug. 13, Aurora learned that an employee had tested positive and immediately entered a mandated two-week period of self-isolation. The employee’s last day at the facility was Aug. 10 and they will not be permitted to return to woirk until the two-week period ends and they have tested negative for the virus, according to a statement provided by the company.
Aurora also took the step of temporarily suspending operations at the facility and has mandated all of its Pemberton employees quarantine for 14 days, with pay.
The facility is set to resume operations on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The confirmed case triggered Aurora’s emergency response plan, which includes “rigorous cleaning and sanitation of all surfaces, and initiation of business continuity plans to maintain the health of all plants,” the statement continued.
HealthLinkBC has been notified, and Aurora continues to work with local health authorities.
It’s been a tough year for one of Canada’s largest cannabis producers, while the wider B.C industry has seen record sales during the pandemic.
The Edmonton-based company has had to significantly restructure in 2020, announcing in June that it was reducing its selling, general and administrative workforce by 25 per cent, before another 30 per cent of its production staff is laid off over the next two quarters.
Aurora also said it would cease operations at five of its facilities over that same period.
By the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2021, the company said it plans to consolidate production and manufacturing at its Aurora Sky, Aurora River, Whistler, Pemberton and Polaris facilities.
Aurora acquired the Whistler Medical Marijuana Company in early 2019 in a deal worth up to $175 million.
In Whistler, the Scandinave Spa was exposed to a guest who tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 8. All visitors to the spa that day have been notified by health authorities.
