COVID-19 outbreak declared at Gahcho Ku Diamond Mine

Anout-of-territory worker has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Gahcho Ku Mine, located approximately 280 kilometresnortheast of Yellowknife.

With a total of two positive cases at the remote site now, it's prompted the N.W.T.'s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola to declare an outbreak at the mine, according toa news release Wednesday morning.

"Both active cases are safely self-isolating at a secure location onsite and are doing well," the release states.

On Monday,Northwest Territories public health officialsconfirmed a case of COVID-19 at the Gahcho Kumine.

The N.W.T. defines an outbreak in a closed facility, including remote camps, as one or more confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 where infection took place at the facility. The statement Wednesday said it's a "high probability" that viral transmission to the second person happened at the site.

However, it said thesecasesare unrelated to the COVID-19 outbreak declared late last weekat the Gahcho Ku contractor-operated winter road worksite, which islocated 40 kilometresfrom the mine.

Investigation ongoing

The second positive case was identified by Gahcho Ku medical staff using onsite rapidtesting technology, the release states, before being confirmed at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.

"The individual is among the 11 contacts of the source case that was identified at the mineearlier this week," the release said.

The two positive cases and all contacts have been in isolationat the mine since Saturday, the release said, and they are away from the generalpopulation at the site.Neither of the positive cases were infectious during travel to the mine, it states.

Medical staff are monitoring and assessing worksite employees, according to the release, and the company will test all employees at the site.

There is no identified risk to N.W.T.communities related to the outbreak, the release said.