Truro sawmill to temporarily shut down after 2 more cases of coronavirus confirmed

The J.D. Irving Ltd. sawmill near Truro, N.S., said it received notice on Wednesday afternoon that two more employees have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of employees infected to three.

The mill said it will shut down temporarily.

The first case at the sawmill was confirmed by the company on Saturday.

“The individuals have been assessed by medical professionals and are self-isolating at home while they recover,” J.D. Irving said in a statement.

According to the company, one worker was last at the sawmill on March 23 and the second worker was last on-site on March 26.

The company said the two workers have not been at the sawmill site since the cleaning and disinfection by third-party emergency response professionals on March 28 and 29 after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed at the sawmill.

As public health continues to investigate to determine the close contacts of the two recent cases, the mill said it will immediately shut down for a minimum of 24 hours.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

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Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

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