A CFJC Today file photo of Sun Peaks Resort from January 2020 (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Aaron Schulze

SUN PEAKS COVID OUTBREAK

COVID-19 outbreak at Sun Peaks Resort, 15 positives from Friday

Apr 10, 2021 | 11:46 AM

SUN PEAKS RESORT — COVID-19 has spread throughout Sun Peaks Resort in the last week.

Mayor Al Raine confirmed to CFJC Today that 15 out of 45 people who were tested for COVID-19 on Friday (April 9) have come back positive. He estimated the resort now has 20 positives in the last week.

Raine is seriously advising people in Sun Peaks to isolate and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.

“About a week ago, I noticed people were letting their guard down,” Raine said. “We also had Whistler and Revelstoke close; we had people coming from other resorts. There were more people here and it was almost kind of a festivity atmosphere at the end of the ski season. We are concerned about those who left this last week. Hopefully they’re very cautious wherever they travel.”

Sun Peaks Resort’s season ended on Monday (April 5). Over the final weekend, Raine noticed groups of visitors breaking COVID-19 health protocols.

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“No question there were numbers of people who were partying and winding up the ski season on the last weekend,” he said. “[Those who left Sun Peaks] should be limiting their contacts with others, certainly for the next week or so watching their own health very carefully. If they feel symptoms, they should go and get tested.

“We are concerned for the health of people who live and work here. We feel it’s important to get the message out so people can self-monitor for the next little while.”

Anyone who visited Sun Peaks Resort in the last 10 days – as of April 9 – is encouraged to isolate and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If they feel symptoms such as a fever, dry cough, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, and aches and pains, they should arrange for testing.

Contact tracing is being conducted by Sun Peaks Resort staff and a local health centre, according to Raine. He’s hopeful to get more testing soon as he believes there will be more positives.

When asked if a COVID-19 variant has been identified, Raine said it’s unknown, as variant determination comes back a week following testing.

However, he said it’s likely there are COVID-19 variants at Sun Peaks Resort.