"I have to commend the
"We did it right. We did it following those directives and the workers listened."
Oilsands mines rely on thousands of workers from across the country who fly to sites and stay there for several days or weeks at a time.
Companies have sent non-essential staff home, but some are allowing workers who don't want to risk travelling to hunker down in lodges on their days off, Robb said.
He said lodges these days generally have private rooms, but special care is being taken in common areas such as dining rooms, where staff are working 10-hour days wiping and sanitizing.
He said as soon as the worker at
"Their protocols and their readiness was tested that day," said Robb. "It was pretty much flawless."
Diversified Transportation, which buses workers to oilsands sites, said it's locking down washrooms, supplying more disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer, boosting cleaning, and carrying fewer passengers so they can sit further apart.
Canadian North is continuing to fly workers to and from their jobs, but with extra precautions.
"We provide an operationally critical role for them," said the airline's communications manager,
Earlier this month, one of its oilsands-bound planes turned back to
Lewis said Canadian North started tracking the emerging COVID-19 threat in January and formed a committee to prepare.
Blankets, pillows and in-flight magazines have been taken away. Frequently touched surfaces are being sprayed down with a bleach solution.
Workers travelling to or from sites are presenting paper boarding cards instead of reusable plastic ones. Passengers are being spaced as far apart as possible.
"I feel they're taking great steps," said Davis, who noted that there's enough space in accommodations to allow for isolation.
Davis said he's had daily calls with
"I haven't heard anything of concern from them whatsoever. My understanding is they're coping well."
Davis said shutting down work camps is not an option.
"It is a critical service," he said. "They do provide critical employment in northern
This report by
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