Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd. said there has been an outbreak of Covid-19 at the Ekati mine site. The Government of the Northwest territories (GNWT) defines an outbreak in a closed facility (which includes remote camps) as one or more confirmed cases of Covid-19 where infection is acquired within the facility.
Presently there are three confirmed positive cases at Ekati. All close contacts and affected individuals are feeling well and have been quarantined in the isolation wing of the camp. The site-wide test results have been confirmed as negative as of 30th May. Regularly scheduled flights have been postponed to complete additional testing and the delay to crew changes is reassessed every 48 hours.
The company enacted the mine’s Trigger Action Response Plan, including completion of contact tracing. Arctic is working closely with the Chief Public Health Officer of the Northwest Territories to mitigate transmission risk and is closely monitoring the situation.
Arctic said its current focus is on workforce safety and making sure all who are affected are receiving appropriate care.