YELLOWKNIFE MARCH 29, 2021 – The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has confirmed one new case of COVID-19 at the Diavik Diamond Mine.

The investigation and contact tracing does not identify any risk to the public.

Assessment by the OCPHO is that the individual did not acquire infection from the mine site.  All screening measures to try and prevent introduction of COVID-19 infections were in place.

The individual and 35 other people identified as contacts are currently self-isolating at the mine site. The OCPHO is working closely with Diavik mine and Yellowknife Public Health to gather information, ensure measures that mitigate risk of transmission are in place, and to monitor the situation.

The case will not be reported in the territory’s COVID-19 statistics. The individual is not an NWT 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.

As of March 29, 2021 at 3:30 p.m., the GNWT COVID-19 dashboard shows: 

• Total Active Cases in the NWT: 1
• Confirmed Cases: 47
• Recovered: 47
• Vaccine Given (Dose 1): 23,722
• Vaccine Given (Dose 2): 13,933