No different instances have been detected for the reason that case was first reported on March 29.
The one who examined constructive and 35 others who have been shut contacts are nonetheless self-isolating on the mine web site. The individual contaminated is “doing properly.”
The workplace of the chief public well being officer beforehand reported that the individual contracted the virus outdoors of the distant mine web site, which is accessible solely by air or ice street.
A information launch from the N.W.T.’s chief public well being workplace says Diavik Diamond Mines will check all workers on the mine, and “proceed to work with Public Well being officers to mitigate transmission threat.”
The case will not be being reported within the territory’s COVID-19 statistics because the employee will not be an N.W.T. resident. There isn’t any threat to the general public right now, in keeping with the discharge.
An outbreak earlier this 12 months on the Gahcho Kue diamond mine — about 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife and equally distant — grew to incorporate 20 instances. That outbreak was declared over on March 26.
Nunavut confronted an identical outbreak on the Hope Bay gold mine, which lies close to the Arctic coast almost 700 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.
Diavik has recorded three constructive instances of COVID-19 for the reason that pandemic started. Two staff examined constructive on the mine on Dec. 23. One examined constructive in November of final 12 months.
None of these instances result in additional unfold inside the mine.
Reporting on COVID-19 outbreaks at northern mines has supplied a uncommon window within the scale of distant, fly-in operations. In any other case, little is thought about what number of fly-in staff are employed in Canada’s North.
Diavik Diamond Mines is a three way partnership between the Rio Tinto Group and Dominion Diamond Company.
