Out-of-territory worker. All contacts appropriately isolated. No risk to NWT communities.
YELLOWKNIFE December 4, 2020 – A confirmed positive COVID-19 test has been identified at Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine.
The worker traveled directly to the mine site from out-of-territory. All workplace precautions were followed – including mandatory masking.
The individual is isolated appropriately and doing well.
Investigation and action
A contact investigation yielded 25 contacts who are all isolating appropriately on-site.
Public health will continue to work with Gahcho Kué medical staff to monitor and respond to any changes in the situation on-site.
Public risk
There has been no risk identified to NWT communities as a result of this case.
Site risk
The right steps have been taken to mitigate risk on-site. Public health, working with the mine’s staff, assesses the risk of further transmission of COVID-19 as very low.
Case reporting
As this individual was a non-resident, and it is believed transmission occurred outside the NWT, this case will not be included in the territory’s case numbers.
A lesson about testing
Rapid response and isolation like those demonstrated at NWT diamond mines are possible because cases are caught early due to testing.
One lesson everyone in the territory can take from that is to contact your health centre or public health unit to be assessed for COVID-19 testing as soon as you have any symptoms.
Getting tested early allows public health to quickly investigate, trace, and isolate to break the chain of transmission.
As the risk of contracting COVID-19 rises, keep our communities safer and save lives by getting tested for COVID-19 early.
It is easier and faster than ever – with the vast majority of tests returning in less than two days.
Importance of workplace safety measures
Another crucial lesson to take is that protective workplace measures work to stop COVID-19 in its tracks.
As risk continues to grow, now is the time for facilities across the NWT to consider putting additional protective measures in-place at their sites – like masking, more distancing, and smaller crowds – to help stop COVID-19 from spreading when it is present.
There have been no instances of further transmission on-site at the diamond mines because of measures like these.
Updating exposure control plans to reflect the lessons learned from these instances is strongly recommended.
Attribution
All commentary is attributable to Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories.