The number of COVID-19 cases linked to Imperial Oil’s Kearl Lake is increasing to 18.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced the outbreak last week after three workers had tested positive.

At the time, only one was in quarantine on-site – which is around 70 km north of Fort McMurray.

However, an Imperial Spokesperson says, as of this past weekend, four individuals are currently isolating on-site while the other 14 are off-site.

Each of those who are in quarantine at home had been tested after leaving the oilsands.

These numbers could change as the company continues to update the situation.

The hometowns of these workers hasn’t been released, however, Hinshaw noted there were several cases outside of the province.

This is the first reported outbreak of the virus at an Alberta oilsands.