THUNDER BAY - The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has confirmed that 10 of the recently detected COVID-19 variant cases are part of an outbreak at the Musselwhite Mine.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Thunder Bay District that have screened positive for a variant of concern has increased by 21 in the last two weeks, bringing the total number to 25.
“The outbreak at the mine has contributed to at least half of those and that is the kind of thing you could see happening,” said Dr. Janet DeMille, medical officer of health with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “COVID does spread obviously and we know variants of concern do spread more easily.”
According to DeMille, the variant case was introduced to the site from a worker living outside of the Thunder Bay District, which then spread to others.
The outbreak at Musselwhite was first declared on April 21 and while seeing variants as part of a workplace outbreak is concerning, DeMille said the mine does have procedures in place to limit the spread.
“It is concerning in situations that are congregate settings, where people are not only working together, but may be sharing living spaces. I do though know that the mines in our area, including Musselwhite have strong procedures in place to limit spread,” DeMIlle said.
“We are hoping that spread will be limited. But it is a concern given what is happening in other parts of the province and other parts of the country. We do know one situation or one outbreak can set us off in the wrong direction.”
A third wave of COVID-19 in southern Ontario has been largely due to the spread of variants of concern and has resulted in a record number of hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.
The health unit is also tracking several other variant cases associated with rail transportation workers in the area.
The majority of variant cases detected in the district are the result of travel from outside of the region, followed by secondary transmission to others from infected individuals.
Of the new variants detected in the district, most have been identified as the U.K. variant, which is the most common one in Ontario, but a second subtype with two mutations has also been detected and further testing is being conducted to determine which variant it is.
With most variant cases the result of travel outside of the district, the health unit is again reminding people that travel should only take place for essential reasons.
Individuals who must travel for work or other essential reasons, as well as close contacts, must be mindful that they could be exposed to a COVID-19 variant and should be bringing it back to the community.
“It is a concern to see them here,” DeMille said. “But we follow up and we are applying enhanced public health guidance to manage any individual who has COVID, but also individuals who have these variants and managing them accordingly.”
“There is certainly a risk and an uncertainty that a variant of concern could lead to increasing case numbers in our area.”
