This article has been updated to include comments from North Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Charmaine Enns.
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A Comox Valley car dealership has temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution due to a potential COVID-19 exposure.
In a letter posted to Facebook, Michael Marchi, dealer principal of Comox Valley Toyota said despite their best efforts, it was brought to his attention there has been a potential exposure within the dealership.
“Island Health is diligently undergoing their contact tracing protocols to ensure any and all necessary persons are notified of this potential exposure, including a letter to our staff of a medium risk exposure,” he wrote.
To keep customers, staff and the community safe and out of an abundance of caution, the dealership has decided to temporarily close its doors until Feb. 26.
“We apologize for any inconvenience in the matter but have decided that this is the best decision moving forward to keep everyone safe.”
North Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Charmaine Enns said the advisory posted by the dealership was not mandated by Island Health.
“We will post a public exposure when we do a risk assessment that there may have been exposure to the public and we cannot identify close contacts,” said Enns. “Toyota did not need to do that (post its own advisory). I can’t speak for them; I don’t know why they did that, but I think people just feel so much pressure to report.
“I can tell you that we go above and beyond in terms of caution from public health, and there is not a public health exposure notice for that place.”
RELATED: Third Comox Valley school identified with COVID-19 exposure
The BCCDC recorded 1,428 new cases of the virus over the weekend throughout B.C.
Since Feb. 19, Island Health has recorded 101 new cases of COVID-19, with 42 active cases in the North Vancouver Island region, 133 in Central Vancouver Island and 38 in South Vancouver Island.
In the Comox Valley, three schools – Glacier View Secondary, George P. Vanier Secondary School and Queneesh Elementary – have reported COVID-19 exposures. Additionally, on Feb. 19, Early Learning & Preschool in Comox sent an advisory to parents and staff that a member of that workplace has tested positive for COVID-19.
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