1 presumptive COVID-19 case reported at Ekati Diamond Mine

Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories is reporting a presumptive case of COVID-19.

The possiblecase was detected during testing of employees leaving the mine on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Arctic Canadian Diamond Company said in an emailedstatement on Wednesday. Arctic Canadian Diamond Company acquired Ekati from Dominion Diamond Mines in February.

The person is "asymptomatic, feeling well and has been isolated within the quarantine wing" of the mine site, saidMichelle McCullagh, a company spokesperson, in the email.

Upon learning of the case, the company undertook contact tracing and an undisclosed number of "close contact individuals" were quarantined as a precaution, according to McCullagh.

There's no word on whetherthe case involvesan N.W.T. resident.

The company says it's working closely with the Northwest Territories' chief public health officer and is monitoring the situation.

Ekati, about 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, suspended operations when the pandemic took hold in March of 2020. Cabin Radio reported in January that production at the mine had resumed.