Confirmed COVID-19 case at Mary River Mine
News Release
Confirmed COVID-19 case at Mary River Mine
Iqaluit, Nunavut (October 21, 2020) – Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer, today announced a positive case of COVID-19 at the Mary River Mine, 176 km southwest of Pond Inlet. The individual is asymptomatic and in isolation.
Contact tracing was initiated by mine staff according to mine protocols, and identified contacts were also placed in isolation. There is no evidence of transmission at Mary River Mine at this time. Nunavut’s Public Health team is ready to provide support and respond if, and when, it becomes necessary.
As there are no Nunavut residents currently working at the Mary River Mine, the risk of COVID-19 spreading to communities due to this positive case is very low.
The current public health measures, Nunavut’s Path and the Common Travel Areas with Churchill, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories remain unaffected.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. The best protection from spreading or catching the disease is physical distancing, handwashing for at least 20 seconds, coughing and sneezing into an elbow and staying home as much as possible.
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Media Contact:
Chris Puglia
Acting Manager Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
@email