Five employees at Tenaris Algoma Tubes in Sault Ste. Marie have tested positive for COVID-19.
Sharing the news in a series of social media posts this week, the company confirmed that two of the cases identified in the last two weeks are related to workplace transmission.
It said the impacted employees are self-isolating, and the local health unit is performing contact tracing to identify close contacts.
"We recognize the risks associated with the virus and understand concerns among our employees and their families, contractors, members of the community," Tenaris said.
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"As an essential business, we are working closely with Algoma Public Health. We are implementing additional measures on site to increase safety and reduce further risk of exposure: from offering rapid COVID-19 testing on-site, requiring the use of surgical masks versus cloth for greater protection, modifying entrances and increasing even more so the frequency of sanitization of common areas.
"The safety and health of our employees remain (our) priority, and more so during this challenging time.
Tenaris Algoma Tubes manufactures pipes for use in the oil and gas industry. The Sault facility is currently undergoing an $81-million transformation to enable the company to concentrate its North American pipe manufacturing operations in the city.
Tenaris’ other Canadian operations include a threading facility in Nisku, AB; service centres in Grande Prairie, Sherwood Park, and Red Deer, AB, and Bienfait, Sask.; and its Canadian headquarters in Calgary, AB.
– With files from SooToday
