23 October 2020
De Beers Group confirms that an employee travelling from Yellowknife to Gahcho Kué mine on October 20, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Follow-up testing performed yesterday has confirmed there is one positive case of COVID-19 at Gahcho Kué mine. Unfortunately, this is a new case and not the same individual who received the initial presumptive positive test on Tuesday, who was subsequently confirmed negative. The employee has been in quarantine since early Wednesday, as are 18 other employees who were on the same flight, and are all receiving necessary care and support through the company’s employee wellness program. The 18 employees have been confirmed negative in follow up testing and they will remain in isolation until further directed by the Chief Public Health Officer of the Northwest Territories. In addition, three other employees have also been placed into quarantine as a result of contact tracing at the mine and will also be tested. Due to mandatory mask use and other measures, it is believed that the chance of transmission at the mine is extremely low.
To date we have successfully conducted over 2,400 tests at Gahcho Kué without incident since May. The circumstances around this matter are of deep concern and we are reviewing testing protocols to identify how this case was not detected earlier. We continue to work closely with the Chief Public Health Officer of the NWT, the NWT Health and Social Services Authority, and Gahcho Kué’s medical director.