21 September 2020
TMAC Resources Inc. was informed on September 19, 2020 that two camp services workers at its Hope Bay site have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. TMAC values the health and safety of its employees and contractors, their families and the community. The mine site will continue to execute its Infectious Disease Control Plan, implemented on March 12, 2020, and follow public health authorities’ guidance regarding response and containment measures.
The workers who tested positive travelled to the Hope Bay site on September 8, 2020 and both had received negative COVID-19 test results approximately a week prior to boarding the charter flight to Hope Bay from Edmonton, Alberta. However, several days after arriving at Hope Bay, through Provincial contact tracing, TMAC learned the two workers had been exposed to COVID-19 via shared accommodations within their home jurisdiction. The workers immediately went into isolation and have remained under medical observation. TMAC then coordinated with the Government of Nunavut Department of Health, which has resulted in the positive results now reported. These workers had very limited interaction with other staff at Hope Bay prior to their isolation due to COVID-19 safety measures at site. Both workers remain asymptomatic and there are no symptoms among the remaining workforce at site.
These two positive cases of COVID-19 have not impacted operations. There is no travel embargo on Hope Bay going forward while the two workers remain quarantined and there are no further symptoms on site.
The positive cases at Hope Bay are the first two COVID-19 cases in Nunavut. Hope Bay is an isolated location with only fly-in/fly-out access from Edmonton/Yellowknife and no contact with local Kitikmeot communities. Nunavut based workers at Hope Bay were sent home on March 17, 2020 and charter flights to and from Hope Bay and Kitikmeot communities were suspended. This action was taken to protect these communities from infection that could potentially originate at Hope Bay.
TMAC will continue to monitor the situation and is working with the Government of Nunavut Departments of Health, Justice, Economic Development and Transportation to align the steps taken to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank the government for its professionalism and assistance in this matter. Our top priority remains the well being of the two affected workers and the remaining staff on site.