Yukon gov't warns of potential COVID-19 exposure at mine near B.C. border

The Yukon government wants anyone who has been working at the Silvertip mine on the B.C.-Yukon border within the past two weeks to self-isolate after five employees had positive COVID-19 tests. 

Four employees who left the mine site on March 3 have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home. Another employee who was in contact with those four has also tested positive, Brad Cornborough, a company lawyer, wrote in a statement Monday. 

The company has since done contact tracing and workers still at the site are watching for symptoms. Company officials believe the outbreak is contained and they are co-operating with health authorities, he said. 

Yukon public health officials first announced they were "informed of cases of COVID-19 transmitted" at the mine on Saturday. 

None of the five people who tested positive are from Yukon, Pat Living, a spokesperson for the Yukon health department told CBC News.

Still, health officials say workers who've returned home should self-isolate for 14 days following their departure from the mine. The mine is technically in B.C.

It's also asking anyone who has been at the mine site from Feb. 17 to the present to self-monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms.

If they develop any, the territory is asking them to self-isolate and arrange to get tested.

Symptoms include: 

• fever.

• chills.

• cough.

• difficulty breathing.

• shortness of breath.

• runny nose.

• sore throat.

• loss of sense of taste or smell.

• headache.

• fatigue.

• loss of appetite.

• nausea and vomiting.

• diarrhea.

• muscle aches.

People from Watson Lake, Yukon and the surrounding area, including Lower Post, B.C., can call the Watson Lake Community Hospital at 867-536-4444 to arrange for testing.

Mine workers in Whitehorse can book an appointment to get tested at the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre by calling 867-393-3083.

Anyone in another community can be tested at a local health centre.

The mine is located 90 kilometres southwest of Watson Lake, Yukon, and is owned by Chicago-based Coeur Mining.