Editor's Note: Another outbreak in the region has been declared at an Iroquois Falls elementary school. More on that story is available here.
A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Glencore's Kidd Mine.
So far, three employees are confirmed COVID-19 cases and "the investigation has determined that the cases are related to the workplace," according to the Porcupine Health Unit.
"The PHU is working closely with the workplace to ensure the infection prevention and control measures are in place. The management team at Glencore’s Kidd Operations Mine Site is taking all the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and prevent the transmission of COVID-19," reads the health unit bulletin.
This is the third outbreak of the virus at the mine since the start of the pandemic. The others, which has since been declared over, were in September 2020 and January 2021.
Today, 25 new cases of the virus were reported in the health unit region. Sixteen of those are in Timmins, and nine are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls. All of the people are in self-isolation.
In addition to the Kidd Mine outbreak, there is also an ongoing outbreak among staff at Black River-Matheson Township.
To date, there have been 448 confirmed cases of the virus in the region. Of those, 359 are recovered and 25 people have died. There are 64 known active cases — 39 in Timmins, 23 in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls, and two in the Hearst, Hornepayne area.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-360-4819 or 1-800-461-1818.
People eligible for a vaccine can register for upcoming clinics in the region here. Select pharmacies are also delivering the vaccine. Find a list of those and book an appointment here.
