COVID-19 cases at Hudbay’s Flin Flon and Snow Lake operations have climbed over the past week. As of Monday, 16 of the company’s employees have tested positive for the disease.
“Over the weekend, we received confirmation of two additional COVID-19 cases at our Snow Lake operations, bringing the total to 16 positive COVID-19 cases among workers at our Snow Lake and Flin Flon operations since April 7,” said a Hudbay spokesperson to The Reminder when reached for comment.
A spokesperson for Hudbay told The Reminder that employees affected are isolating at home and that cases were found in both the company’s Flin Flon and Snow Lake operations.
“All confirmed cases, as well as close contacts, are self-isolating and recovering at home. We are encouraged that a number of these cases are now considered resolved and continue to wish all individuals affected a quick recovery,” reads a Hudbay statement.
The origin of at least one case has been confirmed to be from community spread outside the company. While the Hudbay spokesperson said several workers have tested positive and since recovered, no number of recoveries has been confirmed.
“We have verified that one of these positive cases is unrelated to the cases within our operations and has been traced to another source. At this time, additional cases are now considered resolved. We are supporting employees who may need to isolate and actively working with public health to monitor the situation,” reads a Hudbay statement.
The outbreak also led to a brief shutdown at the Stall mill in Snow Lake, which was reopened April 14. The spokesperson said the cases have not further impacted Hudbay's operations, adding that more measures have been taken at the Stall mill to stop COVID-19 spread.
“We have implemented additional measures at our Stall mill to prevent further transmission. This includes the installation of plexiglass barriers between desks in the control room, along with further reducing the number of people permitted in the control room and other meeting rooms,” reads the Hudbay statement.
“Rapid PCR testing at our camp is ongoing and available for all those who work in Snow Lake.”
According to most recent provincial government data, 13 cases remain active in the Flin Flon/Snow Lake/Cranberry Portage/Sherridon health district, which covers both Hudbay’s operations in Flin Flon and Snow Lake. One case has been confirmed at the Flin Flon Personal Care Home, where a staff member has tested positive.
