(submitted photo/ City of Brooks)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Isolation spaces, community testing centre coming to Brooks: Mayor

Apr 22, 2020 | 4:48 PM

BROOKS AB- As cases of COVID-19 continue to grow, the Mayor of Brooks says more work is being done to prevent the spread.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday the province of Alberta announced two deaths in the city of Brooks but it is unclear if the deaths were COVID-19 related because tests are pending

The province has confirmed that one of the deaths a JBS Canada employee.

There is a total of 257 cases in Brook– a growth of over 100 new cases over the past 24 hrs.

Earlier this morning, Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita said the city is doing a number of initiatives to prevent the spread of the virus.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

Dec 14, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

“We do have isolation spaces available as of today and we will be bringing more on as the week goes on, and we will also have a community testing site,” Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita said.

More details about the initiatives will be announced by the city in the coming days.

The mayor did confirm however, that the isolation sites will be located at local hotels but he could not confirm any specific hotels as of yet.

Meantime, the mayor said he has maintained frequent communication with JBS Canada, about their operations.

“JBS has been working very closely with the City of Brooks and AHS to make sure that everything is being done appropriately. I know they are improving conditions at the plant almost daily to keep the safety of our community at the forefront,” Morishita said.

When asked about concerns about workers feeling, the mayor said he has heard those concerns and has brought them up to JBS Canada’s attention.

“Yes I have heard some of those concerns and I have taken them up with JBS and it really you know as far as the cases go. I have not had confirmed to me that any transmission has happened at the plant, and I have not got any specific statements from AHS South Zone, but their broad statements have been that it is broad community transfer, and local community transfer.”

” At this point I don’t underestimate the potential spread of JBS, but I believe the processes are in place to limit that. Where the processes need to be improved are in homes, people gathering, not social distancing that will be the biggest mountain to climb”.

As of 4p.m. the province confirmed a total of 96 cases of COVID-19 at the Brooks JBS Canada meat plant.

The union representing the workers at the plant is calling for an immediate shutdown to protect workers’ safety.