Northwestern Health Unit reports 2 new COVID-19 cases in Atikokan related to Lac des Iles Mine

The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Atikokan, both of which are connected to an outbreak of the virus at Lac des Iles mine (LDI).

"The cases are self-isolating and all contacts are in quarantine. Affected employees from LDI mine are being contacted regularly to ensure compliance with control measures," reads a Facebook post from the NWHU on Monday. "We ask that anyone from NWHU region who has worked at the mine since March 30 to contact us."

Impala Canada, the company, which owns and operates the Lac des Iles mine (LDI), about 90 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont., has been dealing with an outbreak of the virus at its semi-remote operation.

According to reports from The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and NWHU, there are 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff from the LDI mine in the region.

The two new confirmed cases in Atikokan bring the total number for cases in the NWHU catchment area to 15. However, one of the cases being reported in the NWHU area has a primary residence in southern Ontario and has not been to the NWHU region since contracting the virus while travelling internationally.

The NWHU has reported ten of the 15 positive cases are now resolved, while another 220 tests are currently pending.

The NWHU catchment area covers communities such as Kenora, Dryden, Atikokan, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Rainy River, Emo, and Fort Frances.