LAKE LOUISE – Company-wide COVID-19 testing is in progress at the Lake Louise Ski Resort after an outbreak spread through staff accommodation in late November.
As of Wednesday (Dec. 9), four of the six staff members are out of quarantine and final precautionary testing for staff is being completed this week, said Dan Markham, brand and communications director at the resort.
"We were able to test most of our large staff accommodations on Wednesday or Thursday (Dec. 2-3) of last week and then by Sunday or Monday, we were able to get the other two accommodations ... we are now still waiting for those tests," said Markham in an interview with the Outlook.
"The idea was to do proactive testing to get anyone that is asymptomatic and get ahead of things."
A COVID-19 positive person who is asymptomatic would not show signs of having the virus.
The Banff National Park ski resort has four staff accommodations – two in Lake Louise, one at Great Divide Lodge, and one in Banff.
Prior to the initial tests, Markham said staff showing symptoms were placed into pre-setup isolation units and provided support during quarantine.
"I think we have really high-level COVID protocols in place and the staff were following them to the T," said Markham. "The question becomes whether the public will follow them once they come to the resort?"
In an announcement on Tuesday (Dec. 8), the Alberta government said ski hills in Banff National Park can remain open, but services such as dine-in restaurants will be shut down until mid-January.
Markham said the latest information about the ski resort will be provided on its website and its social media.
"If there's going to be closures or changes in procedure, or at certain times maybe there will be a capacity limit ... so that's the best thing for people to do right now," said Markham. "And please follow the rules ... otherwise it may jeopardize the opportunity to continue to ski and snowboard."
