Pacific Crest Building Supply confirmed an outbreak of novel coronavirus at its Clark County facility Thursday afternoon, according to a statement given to The Columbian.
Five employees at the Ridgefield cabinet manufacturing business have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from Clark County Public Health.
Pacific Crest has closed its facility for deep cleaning and is in consultation with Clark County Public Health. Pacific Crest said in the statement that they are facilitating testing for all employees. The statement did not include their number of employees, but The Columbian is trying to get that information from the company.
Public Health has notified the state of the outbreak, but it’s still unclear if this outbreak will factor into the county’s Phase 2 application, which was likely going to be decided on before the end of the workweek.
“Health and safety of our employees and their families is our No. 1 priority,” the statement said. “Pacific Crest Building Supply is working closely with Clark County health officials and has implemented staff guidelines in relation to social interactions, hygiene, travel and visits to Pacific Crest Building Supply.”
The previous time Clark County applied for Phase 2, the application was put on pause because of a large outbreak at Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver.
Before the Pacific Crest outbreak became public Thursday, Clark County Public Health confirmed three new COVID-19 cases Thursday morning, none linked to the outbreak at Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver.
That outbreak, which has amassed 132 confirmed cases in workers and close contacts of employees, appears to have been mostly contained by Public Health. Seven of those cases live outside Clark County. The county has tested 327 people connected to the Firestone outbreak.
The county added eight cases Monday, two cases Tuesday and six cases Wednesday.
The low level of cases this week was shaping up as potentially helpful to Clark County’s chances to enter Phase 2.
There were four people hospitalized for the virus Thursday in Clark County, according to Public Health. At least 10,641 people have been tested in the county.
Clark County has remained at 25 COVID-19 deaths since May 15.
