A veteran tree planter has died after he was exposed to COVID-19 while travelling to a reforestation operation in Quesnel.

The 80-year-old man worked for Dewan Enterprises as a reforestation sub-contractor. 

Health officials in northern B.C. declared the outbreak at the reforestation operation in Quesnel on May 21, three days after he died. A total of nine people have tested positive in the outbreak. 

The outbreak involved Dewan Enterprises and MikeGroSite Consulting. Both businesses were ordered to close on May 10 after public health investigations found