A meeting attended by 25,000 Canadian mining and business people, including Flin Flonners, has entered the spotlight after an attendee tested positive for COVID-19.
An Ontario man who attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, held in Toronto from March 1-4, has tested positive for the coronavirus-based disease.
Few details about the infected person have been released. The infected person is a man from Sudbury, Ont. who tested positive for the disease in Sudbury following the event.
“We learned that an attendee at PDAC 2020 tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning home to Sudbury, Ontario. We are working directly with Toronto Public Health and Public Health Sudbury & District on their investigation,” reads a statement on PDAC’s website.
According to a statement from Public Health Sudbury and Districts, was not infectious but may have become infected at the event.
“I am confirming that based on our investigations so far, the individual was not infectious while attending the PDAC 2020 conference March 2 and 3 in Toronto,” said Sudbury & District medical officer of health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe in a statement.
“Our working hypothesis at this time is that this individual was exposed to COVID-19 while at the conference and therefore we are advising those who attended the conference to monitor for symptoms for 14 days since leaving this event,” said Dr. Sutcliffe.
Attendees at PDAC have been asked to self-monitor their health and any possible COVID-19 symptoms.
The infected man is confirmed to have visited the PDAC trade show, which ran from March 1-3, as well as a press conference with Ontario Premier Doug Ford March 2, a student-industry networking luncheon March 3 and other, smaller events.
“It is recommended that people who attended PDAC 2020 watch for signs and symptoms as a precautionary measure. It is possible that the person in Sudbury acquired their infection at the event,” said a PDAC statement issued the morning of March 13.
“The risk is low and persons are advised to self-monitor.”
When reached by The Reminder, a Hudbay spokesperson said some company employees had attended the conference but did not say if any Flin Flon or northern Manitoba-based employees attended.
“We are aware that an individual who attended the PDAC conference tested positive for COVID-19, although we don't know that individual. The conference attracts 25,000 people every year, including members of municipal, provincial and federal governments, along with industry service providers in the mining sector,” read the statement.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, as of March 13, one confirmed case of COVID-19 had been reported in Manitoba, along with three probable cases. One probable case had been reported in Saskatchewan.
Across Canada, 152 confirmed cases and three probable cases had been reported as of March 13.
“Some Hudbay employees did attend the conference as they do every year,” said a statement from the company’s spokesperson, adding that Hudbay has developed plans at all facilities to deal with the COVID-19 global outbreak.
“In light of the current situation and following the advice of national and local health agencies, we have implemented response plans at all of our business units and offices including Manitoba and are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves. The health and safety of our employees is Hudbay's top priority and we can assure you we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the workplace continues to remain a safe environment for everyone.”
While representatives from municipal governments in and around Flin Flon have attended the convention in previous years, no members of Flin Flon city council and Creighton town council or municipal staff attended this year’s event.
At least one Flin Flon-based person attended the conference. Becky Cianflone, a member of the provincial government’s Look North Steering Committee, attended the meeting as part of the group.
In a statement to The Reminder, Cianflone said she was “following public health guidelines related to [COVID-19],” adding she felt "great!"
Possible symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, trouble breathing and pneumonia. According to Johns Hopkins University, about 3.7 per cent of all COVID-19 cases worldwide have been fatal, with most fatalities reported in China. One Canadian, a resident of British Columbia, has died from the illness.
No cases have been reported in Flin Flon or in Manitoba outside Winnipeg.
