The tree planting sector was highly successful in minimizing COVID cases through 2020 and 2021. However, in early 2022, the highly infectious (but fortunately milder) Omicron variants are making their way into camps and crews, showing that there are limits to even the best preventive systems. Multiple companies have reported COVID cases, ranging from isolated cases to a few larger clusters. Infections have appeared in camps that have been COVID-free for several weeks, indicating that communities may pose a greater risk of infection to worker camps than camps pose to communities. As a result, some contractors have limited the use of trucks on nights off and limited town trips to the day off only, in an effort to discourage workers from attending busy bars and restaurants where there is a higher risk of transmission. Contractors are finding that rapid antigen testing, adherence to crew pods, continual health monitoring, and effective hygiene all continue to play a role in limiting the spread of infection. One diligent contractor even reported catching a case of viral gastroenteritis before it spread to the crew; something that may have slipped through and caused widespread illness several years ago. While WorkSafeBC has indicated compensation claims may be filed for COVID infections without penalty to the employer, a claim backlog means that payouts may take several months to process. All employers are advised to ensure that they are prepared to respond to potential outbreaks, and have ready access not only to medical assistance to guide them in decision-making with affected workers, but also to the resources and facilities they may need to provide isolation and support for a short period of time. The main positive trend is that with effective systems in place, and a workforce with a high rate of vaccination (and to some extent, previous infection) outbreaks are likely to affect only a fraction of any group, and that limiting contact between crews (or pods) and rapid response to reported symptoms can prevent COVID cases from significantly impacting operations. Most importantly, no employers have reported the need to hospitalize any affected workers, and the youth and healthful vigor of the workforces is confining most cases to the mild end of the spectrum.
