Agnico Eagle reports that on October 28, 2020, an employee working at its Meliadine mine near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut tested positive for COVID-19 and is considered as a presumptive case until test results have been validated by health authorities in their provincial jurisdiction. The individual boarded the northbound flight in Mirabel on October 28th 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. The individual was extracted from site on a special flight later in the day on October 28th.

Upon arriving at the mine site, employees from the October 28th northbound flight were immediately placed in strict isolation in their rooms while a contact tracing exercise was conducted. The tracing exercise identified 17 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 17 people identified as potential contacts remained isolated at the mine site until being extracted from site on October 29th on a special charter flight. They have been instructed to follow the recommendations of their provincial health authorities. They 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.

Further updates will be provided when more information becomes available.