Tahltan First Nation calls COVID-19 outbreak at B.C. gold mine a 'clear and present danger' to community

A northern B.C. First Nation is calling a COVID-19 outbreak at the Brucejack gold mine a "threat" and a "clear and present danger" to its communities.

In a news release, the Tahltan Central Government is urging provincial health authorities and mine owners Pretivm, to strengthen partnerships to fight the pandemic. 

In the statement, the First Nation said prior to the outbreak, it sent a letter to Pretivm complaining it wasn't working with the Tahltan Nation to ensure the protection and safety of the most vulnerable in the community but has since received a positive response from the company.

The First Nation is reminding any members working at the mine to self-isolate should they return to Tahltan territory.

"Many of our fellow brothers and sisters who work at Brucejack have done nothing wrong. They have been following all health orders, have worn their masks, and have done everything that has been asked of them."

On Wednesday, Northern Health released an update on the outbreak at the mine north of Stewart, B.C.   

The number of COVID-19 cases has almost doubled within a week. Forty-two positive cases have been identified since the outbreak was declared, 21 people continue to receive medical care and 12 remain actively infectious.     

Approximately 485 employees work at the gold mill and underground mine.

Mineworker Harry Good, who spent 14 days in isolation in a trailer at the work camp, says he felt the mine had handled the outbreak well and there were many protocols in place to stop the spread of the disease.

"The protocols here were very strict, people's jobs were depending on the protocols," he said. 

Good said camp medics checked on him regularly to make sure he wasn't developing symptoms.

Despite this, he said, there were still moments of fear he could have been infected.

"I just felt scared and anxious that it [COVID] was in the camp," he said. "[But] they shut everything down, got it all taken care of, tested everybody on site to make sure there's no continuous infections on site here [before] they opened up again."

Mine owners Pretivm announced Wednesday travel restrictions to and from the work camp would be lifted following site-wide testing. 

"[A total of] 453 tests were conducted, and based on those results it was determined that the large majority of positive cases were restricted to a limited cluster," the company noted in a written statement.  "Travel has now resumed with enhanced protocols and procedures that were developed in collaboration with local indigenous partners and B.C. Northern Health."

The Brucejack mine has continued to operate through the outbreak.