After reporting its first-ever case of COVID-19, Irving Shipbuilding is temporarily suspending all production operations at Halifax Shipyard on Friday.
Irving said it was informed Thursday that an employee at the shipyard had tested positive for COVID-19. Nova Scotia Health contacted the employee's crew of 15 people after identifying the case as part of contact tracing efforts. The crew was told to go home, self-isolate and book a COVID-19 test.
CORRECTION TO EARLIER: Out of an abundance of caution and after consultation with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, we have decided to temporarily suspend production operations at the Halifax Shipyard for today, Friday, February 26th. Therefore hourly employees are not to report.
— Irving Shipbuilding (@IrvingShipbuild) February 26, 2021
On Thursday evening, Irving said in a tweet that it would be cancelling some shifts at the shipyard Thursday and Friday.
In an emailed statement Friday, the company said it would be temporarily suspending all production operations for the day out of an abundance of caution after consulting Nova Scotia Health. This means that hourly employees at the shipyard don't have to report to work. Staff employees will work from home.
Staff at the Bluenose Building, located in Dartmouth, and staff at Marine Fabricators and Woodside Industries are to report for work as normal.
At a live briefing Friday, Premier Iain Rankin said the company is planning to test all its employees at the shipyard in the coming days.
Nebal Snan is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
