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Positive Case of COVID-19 Confirmed at Diavik

Press Release

21 Close Contacts Isolated On-Site

YELLOWKNIFE – A positive COVID-19 test at Diavik Diamond Mine has now been validated by Alberta Precision Laboratories.

The Ontario resident is doing well and remains isolated on-site.

Upon discovery of the presumptive case, 37 people were isolated on-site out of an abundance of caution. Further investigation determined 16 could be safely released from isolation.

Diavik Diamond Mine has medical expertise on-site and will be in regular contact with public health officials as they monitor the situation and investigate contacts.

Mine employees are being kept up-to-date and are following additional precautions to avoid any potential contact with those who are isolated.

Public health leadership has carefully assessed the situation and determined that there is no additional risk to Northwest Territories communities or workers on-site resulting from this case.

Case reporting

This case will not be included in the territory’s statistics as the individual is an Ontario resident.

The Public Health Agency of Canada requires that attribution of COVID-19 infections to a Province or Territory depend on individual’s place-of-residence.

You can prevent outbreaks from spreading

Taking responsibility and following precautions works to keep our friends, families, and communities safer.

And whether you’re at a mine site or a mall, the steps you can take to limit the spread of outbreaks are the same.

  • Prioritize physical distance: Keeping two metres, or six feet apart from others will keep you and those around you safer.
  • Keep your circles small, and your spaces large: Smaller crowds and bigger rooms limit the amount of people who could contract COVID-19. Outside is always best when getting together.
  • When it’s tough to keep your distance, wear a non-medical mask: It’s like covering your sneezes and coughs all the time – even when you may not realize your respiratory droplets are spreading. When everyone does it, we’re all better protected.
  • Keep coughs and sneezes to yourself: Use a tissue or a flexed elbow to keep your respiratory droplets from getting to others.
  • If you’re sick, stay home: Even if it’s mild. Take the online self-assessment(link is external) or call ahead to your local healthcare centre to be assessed for COVID-19 testing.
  • If you’re supposed to self-isolate, don’t go: Do not go to public places, other households, or anywhere you could come face-to-face with those you are not self-isolating with.

Relevant links

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