Northern Health Medical Health Officers have declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Pretium Resources Brucejack Mine north of Stewart, BC, after finding evidence of COVID-19 transmission among employees and contractors at the underground gold mine.
To date, at least 22 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in association with this outbreak, and 14 of 17 currently active cases are in self-isolation at the main Brucejack Mine camp. There are approximately 485 employees working at the project site; proactive COVID-19 testing is underway, and anyone identified as cases or close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate either on-site, or in their home communities.
Northern Health and Brucejack Mine operator Pretium Resources have been monitoring a cluster of COVID-19 cases since early February, and collaborating to implement enhanced control measures for reducing the risk of transmission of illness among mine site employees.
In light of lab-confirmation of additional cases, the company is implementing further outbreak management measures including a halt to worker travel to the main Brucejack Mine camp, until site staff testing is completed.
Northern Health is also working with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) to ensure communication with the health authorities or jurisdictions of any affected employees’ home communities.
The outbreak declaration will be in place for at least 28 days.
More information on public exposures, school exposures, and facility or community outbreaks of COVID-19 within the Northern Health region.