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Positive case of Covid confirmed at Diavik Diamond Mine

diavik
The presumptive positive case of Covid-19 at Diavik comes on the same day as a confirmed case of coronavirus was found at the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine, said the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer. file photo

A positive case of Covid-19 at the Diavik Diamond Mine has been validated by Alberta Precision Laboratories, said the GNWT in a news release on Thursday.

The case was first reported as presumptive on Wednesday.

The infected individual, an Ontario resident, is said to be doing well and is isolated at the mine site.

"Upon discovery of the presumptive case, 37 people were isolated on-site out of an abundance of caution," said GNWT spokesperson Mike Westwick. "Further investigation determined 16 could be safely released from isolation."

Public health officials have determined that there is no additional risk to NWT communities or workers at the mine.

Medical professionals on-site will remain in regular contact with health officials as they monitor the situation and trace contacts.

Employees at the mine are being updated regularly and are instructed to avoid contact with isolated individuals.

This case will not be included in the NWT statistics as the individual is an Ontario resident, and as per Public Health Agency of Canada regulations, the attribution of Covid infections depends on an individual's place-of-residence.

The case is the second at Diavik since July, when an Alberta resident was later confirmed to be positive for Covid-19.