The Petro-Canada/7-11 in Ladysmith closed following a confirmed case of COVID-19. (Google Maps)
COVID-19 EXPOSURE

Potential COVID-19 exposures announced in Ladysmith, Saanich and UVIC

Mar 20, 2020 | 9:31 AM

NANAIMO — Both local health authorities and area businesses have confirmed COVID-19 exposures in specific locations of the Island.

The Petro-Canada gas station and attached 7-Eleven in Ladysmith posted a notice on their front door Thursday, March 19 confirming a case of COVID-19 at the store.

“We have temporarily closed the store to thoroughly clean and sanitize the location,” the notice said. “We would ask any customers that may have visited the store between March 5 to March 11 to monitor how they are feeling.”

The notice also said staff at the store were self-isolating for the required 14 days.

Island Health also announced a potential exposure at the University of Victoria on March 12 in three university classes.

Students in Psych 300B A01, Psych 351B A01 and Biol 367 A01 on March 12 were advised of a potential exposure, however Island Health noted a risk assessment of potential exposure was low.

Island Health also reported possible exposures at Saanich Commonwealth Place in both the swimming pool on March 12 and a kickboxing class on March 15.

“We are advising people who attended the classes above, or the pool…to monitor themselves closely for symptoms including coughing, sneezing, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing,” Island Health said in a release.

Chief medical health officer for Island Health Dr. Richard Stanwick released a video on March 19 responding to concerns from the public on not releasing specific locations of confirmed cases.

“These individuals are our patients, they deserve the same respect and privacy that anyone else seeking care or treatment at our facilities get,” Stanwick said. “The information that has been collected to date has largely been used to identify the fact that the virus has arrived on the Island.”

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