Agnico Eagle is providing the following update on recent results from its COVID-19 testing program for employees at its Meadowbank Complex, near Baker Lake, Nunavut.
On November 20, 2020, an employee traveling northbound to the Meadowbank Complex near Baker Lake, Nunavut, and boarding from Mirabel, tested positive for COVID-19 at our testing facility in Val-d’Or, Quebec and was considered a presumptive case.
The individual did not present any symptoms at the time of testing, 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 20th.
On November 23rd, the Company received confirmation from an accredited external laboratory that the individual had tested positive for COVID-19.
Upon arriving at the mine site, employees from the November 20th northbound flight were immediately placed in isolation while a contact tracing exercise was conducted. The tracing exercise identified ten 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 ten people identified as potential contacts remained in isolation at the mine site until being extracted from site on November 21st 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.
Due to the robustness of our safety measures such as the isolation protocol, the Chief Public Health Officer of Nunavut has authorized the release of all other employees that were on the northbound flight on November 20th. These employees were able to return to work as the risk is considered to be very low and they will be retested in the coming days as a preventive measure. 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 Baker Lake is very low. The mines implemented precautionary measures in March to isolate themselves 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 Meadowbank Complex remains a priority, including during the transportation process of employees to site, in order to continue protecting the communities.