The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) has issued a COVID-19 advisory to residents related to an outbreak at Northern Iron Mine.
The RCDHU says any individuals who have arrived in Renfrew County and District from the Mary River Mine Site in Nunavut of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation since April 30, 2021, to immediately self-isolate whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, and notify RCDHU at 613-732-3629 extension 977 or 1-800-267- 1097.
An outbreak of COVID-19 was declared at the Mary River Mine site of the Baffinland Iron Mines
Corporation in early May, involving the B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India.
Residents who have returned from the Mine since April 30, 2021, who currently have symptoms or have previously had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 at any time since April 30th, should immediately seek testing and advise all household members to self-isolate.
The RCDHU says after exposure to the virus, it can take up to 14 days to develop COVID-19 infection, meaning it’s possible for an individual who tests negative early after exposure to subsequently
develop infection and spread COVID-19 to others.
The health unit says a negative test prior to departure from the Mine does not rule out exposure to COVID-19 or developing infection.
Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation has been informed that some individuals have developed symptoms shortly after arriving home, despite testing negative prior to departure/flights, meaning that they could have been contagious during flight and after arriving at their destination.
