Agnico Eagle Reports a Presumptive COVID-19 Case at its Meliadine Mine

Agnico Eagle reports that on September 28th, an employee working at its Meliadine mine near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut has presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. The individual boarded the northbound flight in Mirabel and was tested at the Company’s testing lab in Val-d’Or, Quebec.

Upon arriving at the mine site, employees from the September 28th northbound flight were immediately placed in strict isolation in their rooms while contact tracing was conducted. Agnico Eagle is working with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer of Nunavut and 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.

Results of the tracing analysis identified 15 people who had contact with the individual who has presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. The Company’s extraction protocol has been activated and all protective measures have been put in place to prevent any potential contamination. The individual who has presumptively tested positive is being transported to the south on a special flight. In addition, the 15 people who had contact with this person are being transported on a separate charter flight to the south.

Due to the robustness of Agnico Eagle’s COVID-19 preventive measures in place at the mine sites and during transportation, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer concluded that the risk of contagion is deemed very low. Consequently, the remaining travelers from the September 28th flight have been cleared to return to work.

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 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.

Further updates will be provided when more information becomes available.