Lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 at a facility outbreak in northern B.C. has nearly doubled in one week.
Northern Health says its found 20 more infections at Brucejack Gold Mine, located roughly 65 km north of Stewart, 765 km northwest of Prince George, incrasing its overall total to 42 since its outbreak was declared on Feb. 10.
The initial report found 22 people that tested positive leading to the declaration by both Northern Health and mine operator Pretium Resources.
Of the 42 cases, 12 are listed as active, all of whom are in self-isolation at the main camp.
"There are approximately 485 employees working at the project site," explained the regional authority in an update this afternoon (Feb. 17), "anyone identified as cases or close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate either on-site, or in their home communities."
Additional measures may be considered, the update reads, between Brucejack Mine and the Tahltan Central Government.
Enhanced outbreak management measures remain in place at the project site as more testing continues.
Northern Health has also recommended the following:
- Immediate one-time testing on the workers with the highest exposure risk
- Anyone who was tested should not leave camp until the results from the testing has come back
- Anyone who tests positive, is symptomatic, or is a close contact, should isolate in camp
- That the company work with those individuals who should isolate, but aren’t willing to stay in camp, to ensure an appropriate safety plan is arranged before they return home, so they aren’t posing additional risk to others
As of this publication, northern B.C. has recorded 4,135 COVID-19 cases since March 2020, with 31 new ones found in the last 24 hours.
More to come...
