There are currently 10 active cases of COVID-19 in Jasper, according to s, released Oct. 22.
Seven of those cases are employees of the Fairmont, Jasper Park Lodge, and one is an individual at Wildflowers Childcare.
The outbreak at the Fairmont was confirmed in a media release from the hotel chain yesterday (Oct. 22).
The release said seven employees had tested positive for COVID-19 and the cases occurred in staff housing. It said all impacted employees had been notified and none of the colleagues who tested positive have been on property for at least seven days.
The hotel is operating "with an abundance of caution" and working closely with Alberta Health Services to control the outbreak. There has been a deep clean of the entire hotel, "extensive" contact tracing, and a 14 day self-quarantine for the individuals and anyone with whom they were in close contact.
Alberta Health Services has confirmed that no hotel guests or visitors have been impacted and advised that risk of transmission is low for those who have not been in close contact with these individuals.
"This is an evolving situation, and as more information is available the hotel will work with Alberta Health Services to provide updates," said a Fairmont spokeswoman.
"Fairmont remains committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of its guests, employees and community, and will take all necessary steps to provide a safe environment at the hotel."
The Wildflowers alert was also issued yesterday (Oct. 22) by the Municipality of Jasper's interim chief administrative officer, John Greathead.
Greathead confirmed in a letter to staff that children and staff in the Marigold and Clover cohort (toddlers) of the Wildflowers Childcare centre had been sent home after we receiving news that an individual in that cohort had tested positive for COVID-19.
He said all parents and guardians had been notified, and anyone deemed as a close contact would be contacted by Alberta Health Services with instructions on next steps.
"Children in other cohorts at Wildflowers Childcare are not considered to be at risk in relation to this case," Greathead said.
"Safety, as always, is our first priority, and we continue to work with Alberta Health Services to ensure all necessary precautions and notifications are in place."
Jasper on 'Watch' status
Jasper was first put on 'Watch' status on Oct. 20, when the municipality hit 11 active cases.
The change in classification is triggered when an area has 10 cases or more and a rate of more than 50 active cases per 100,000 population.
The status was removed Oct. 19, when COVID-19 recoveries were reported and the active case count dropped to nine.
But when a new case was reported yesterday, Oct. 22, Jasper was back in blue on the provincial COVID-19 relaunch status map.
The Municipality of Jasper said in an online statement Oct. 21, "The majority of cases are from known exposure, which shows that the situation is somewhat contained and that contact tracing was possible in relation to these cases."
They said Alberta Health had commended Jasper as a community for its efforts, and encouraged its residents to continue to take all precautions necessary to limit the spread of the virus.
"The Municipality of Jasper and Alberta Health Services 鈥� North Zone will continue to stay in close communication and monitor the situation," the statement said.
