Agnico Eagle reports that on November 17, 2020, an employee working at its Meliadine mine near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut tested positive for COVID-19. The result was confirmed by an accredited laboratory on November 18, 2020.

The individual boarded the northbound flight in Mirabel on November 17th and was tested at the Company’s laboratory in Val-d’Or, Quebec. The individual did not present any symptoms, however, the testing facility has the ability to detect the presence of the virus even if the person does not show any symptoms. In accordance with the Company’s isolation protocols, the individual was isolated on site until being extracted on a special charter flight later in the day on November 17th.

Upon arriving at the mine site, employees from the November 17th northbound flight were immediately placed in isolation in their rooms while a contact tracing exercise was conducted. The tracing exercise identified nine employees that may have been in contact with the individual. The Company’s extraction protocol was activated, and protective measures were put in place to prevent potential contamination. The nine people identified as potential contacts remained in isolation at the mine site until being extracted from site on November 18th on a special charter flight. They have been instructed to follow the recommendations of their provincial health authorities and will be re-tested prior to returning to site.

We are working closely with Nunavut’s Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and we are following their recommendations. Mandatory masks and hygiene protocols were followed by employees prior to boarding the flight, during the flight, as well as for the bus transfer to the mine site.

The risk of transmission to the community of Rankin Inlet is very low. The Meliadine mine implemented precautionary measures in March to isolate itself from the community, including by having its Nunavummiut workers stay at home with 75% of their base salary to eliminate the potential risk of transmission of COVID-19 into the communities. The isolation of the Meliadine mine remains a priority, including during the transportation of employees to site, in order to continue protecting the communities.