{"id":1830,"date":"2020-04-03T03:03:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T03:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/?p=1830"},"modified":"2020-04-03T03:08:34","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T03:08:34","slug":"1830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/?p=1830","title":{"rendered":"IMMIGRATION POLICY CAN KILL YOU &#8212; CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AMONG TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS IN KELOWNA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"gmail-menuScrolling\" class=\"gmail-l-navbar__scrolling\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"gmail-l-navbar\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__top gmail-is-animated\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__inner\">\n<div id=\"gmail-menuMain\" class=\"gmail-l-navbar__standard gmail-is-animated gmail-is-faded-out\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<nav class=\"gmail-l-navbar__topics gmail-is-animated\"><b><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">IMMIGRATION POLICY CAN KILL YOU &#8212; CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AMONG TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS IN KELOWNA<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/b><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"gmail-l-navbar__toggles gmail-is-animated\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-nav gmail-c-nav--buttons\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"gmail-l-navbar\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__top gmail-is-animated\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__submenus\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"gmail-header-tag\" class=\"gmail-l-navbar gmail-l-navbar--custom\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__top\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__container\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__inner gmail-l-overflow gmail-l-overflow--anchoredLeft\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-navbar__banner\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gmail-l-navbar__image\" src=\"https:\/\/shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com\/2020\/03\/globalnews_covid19tagpagebanner_1280x54_v4.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" width=\"1312\" height=\"54\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-content\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-content__inner\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-backToTop gmail-is-slid-and-faded-out\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-main__grid gmail-o-container\">\n<div class=\"gmail-l-main__article gmail-l-main__content gmail-l-main__section gmail-l-article\">\n<div id=\"gmail-article-label\" class=\"gmail-l-article__label gmail-c-topLabel\"><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"gmail-l-article__title\">COVID-19 outbreak investigated at West Kelowna plant nursery<\/h1>\n<div id=\"gmail-article-byline\" class=\"gmail-c-byline gmail-l-article__byline\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-byline__images gmail-c-byline__images--single\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gmail-c-byline__image\" src=\"https:\/\/shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/06\/headshot_doyle_2018-e1534270945147.jpg?quality=70&amp;strip=all&amp;w=136&amp;h=136&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"68\" height=\"68\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-c-byline__text\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-byline__attribution\">By <a class=\"gmail-c-byline__link\" title=\"Posts by Doyle Potenteau\" href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/author\/doyle-potenteau\/\"> Doyle Potenteau <\/a> <span class=\"gmail-c-byline__source gmail-c-byline__source--hasName\">Global News<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-c-byline__date\">Posted March 31, 2020 6:28 pm<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-c-byline__date\">Updated March 31, 2020 11:33 pm<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"gmail-l-article__featured gmail-c-figure\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-figure__embed\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video gmail-c-videoPlay\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video__inner\"><span class=\"gmail-c-video__placeholder gmail-is-faded-out gmail-is-animated\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gmail-c-video__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/j83jrtx1yy-q6cb7u8lti\/bylands_workers_quarantined.jpg?w=1040&amp;quality=70&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/> <time class=\"gmail-c-video__duration\"><\/time> <\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"gmail-miniplayer_6760397_5e8649eaf1781__sticky\" class=\"gmail-c-stickyVideo gmail-c-video__sticky gmail-c-stickyVideo--mini gmail-c-stickyVideo--customNav\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__story gmail-l-main__story\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__details\"><\/div>\n<article class=\"gmail-l-article__text gmail-js-story-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/interior-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Interior Health Authority<\/a> says it is investigating an outbreak of <a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">COVID-19<\/a> involving a group of temporary foreign workers in West Kelowna.On Tuesday, Interior Health said the investigation at the agricultural business followed confirmation of COVID-19 cases among the group of workers.<\/p>\n<section id=\"gmail-content-related-items\" class=\"gmail-l-related\"><\/section>\n<p>It added that the workers live in on-site housing at Bylands Nurseries Ltd., and that 75 workers are involved \u2014 63 migrant workers and 12 local workers \u2014 who are all self-isolating.<\/p>\n<p>Interior Health said there were 14 positive tests for COVID-19, and that additional results are pending.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__part\">\n<p><strong> READ MORE: <a title=\"B.C. premier extends state of emergency, asks people to \u2018re-commit\u2019 to COVID-19 fight\" href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/6757187\/premier-john-horgan-televised-address-coronavirus\/\"> B.C. premier extends state of emergency, asks people to \u2018re-commit\u2019 to COVID-19 fight <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Interior Health said a medical health officer placed an order on Bylands Nurseries Ltd., on March 27, and that the workers are to remain in quarantine on the property until the medical health officer \u201cprovides alternate direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__part\">\u201cThe [medical health officer] is confident that the risk of exposure to the general public is low,\u201d Interior Health said in a press release.<\/div>\n<p>\u201cNone of the workers were in roles that interact with customers and members of this group had very minimal contact in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__part\"><\/div>\n<p>Interior Health said the business is closed to customers, and that the workers live in accommodations that provide space for individuals to safely self-isolate.<\/p>\n<p><em>[ <a title=\"Click for Health IQ newsletter signup\" href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/pages\/email-alerts\/?email=&amp;category=health\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates<\/a> ]<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBylands Nurseries Ltd has been fully cooperative with IH through this process,\u201d said Interior Health, adding the cases may be linked to a group of workers who arrived in Kelowna from outside of Canada on March 12.<\/p>\n<p>Interior Health added that under orders from the medical health officer, Bylands Nurseries and Garden Centre has taken measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including enhanced cleaning of all nursery, housing, sanitary and other facilities accessed by employees, along with denying visitors access to the site.<\/p>\n<p>Interior Health added that the order only applies to Bylands Nurseries Ltd., and not the Bylands Garden Centre, which is a separate business. However, it said the owner of the garden centre has also elected to voluntarily close.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__part\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video gmail-c-videoPlay\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video__inner\"><span class=\"gmail-c-video__placeholder\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gmail-c-video__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/xoyuhc2e2p-g8emdcodro\/CATW.00_03_42_26.Still003.jpg?w=1040&amp;quality=70&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__overlay\"> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__data\"> <time class=\"gmail-c-video__duration\">2:50<\/time> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__title\">Coronavirus around the world: March 31, 2020<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong> <span class=\"gmail-c-figure__desc\">Coronavirus around the world: March 31, 2020<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called them farm workers, stating they had been in Canada prior to <a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/6715010\/coronavirus-okanagan-seasonal-workers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent regulations regarding temporary foreign workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Asked by Global News what should be done to prevent outbreaks among temporary farm workers, Henry said this was an area of deep concern.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve had these discussions at the national level,\u201d said Henry. \u201cAs you know, this is a national program. B.C. is one of the provinces that benefits from the temporary foreign worker program on an ongoing basis. And it\u2019s a very critical part of supporting a number of different industries \u2014 farm industry, agricultural industries \u2014 across the province.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut there are other provinces who have the same concerns. And many of the people come in from countries in South America or Latin America into B.C. and other provinces, so we have been talking about it nationally.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-l-article__part\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video gmail-c-videoPlay\">\n<div class=\"gmail-c-video__inner\"><span class=\"gmail-c-video__placeholder\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gmail-c-video__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/w0r7e6uy8m-zgof2400uq\/MinistersThumber3.jpg?w=1040&amp;quality=70&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__overlay\"> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__data\"> <time class=\"gmail-c-video__duration\">1:00<\/time> <span class=\"gmail-c-video__title\">Coronavirus outbreak: Freeland reiterates message of \u2018critical week\u2019 in COVID-19 fight<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong> <span class=\"gmail-c-figure__desc\">Coronavirus outbreak: Freeland reiterates message of \u2018critical week\u2019 in COVID-19 fight<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Henry continued, saying \u201ccertainly some people have come in several months ago and they are past the risk stage. And it\u2019s becoming more challenging for foreign workers to get in because many of the flights from places that we would normally accept foreign farm workers are not able to leave at the moment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut we are in ongoing discussions with our counterparts across the country and with the federal government about the need for having effective quarantine for individuals who are coming in outside it from outside the country. And in my opinion, that needs to be in a facility that is able to effectively support and care for these people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Henry said the affected group has very good accommodations, where they\u2019re able to isolate effectively, \u201cbut we know that\u2019s not the case in all places where temporary farmworkers are housed, so that is very much a concern that we\u2019re bringing up with our federal counterparts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IMMIGRATION POLICY CAN KILL YOU &#8212; CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AMONG TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS IN KELOWNA COVID-19 outbreak investigated at West Kelowna plant nursery By Doyle Potenteau Global News Posted March 31, 2020 6:28 pm Updated March 31, 2020 11:33 pm The Interior Health Authority says it is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 involving a group of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1373,1282,1372,1371,47],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1830"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1833,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830\/revisions\/1833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadafirst.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}