THUNDER BAY - Workers who were ordered to quarantine at a northwestern Ontario mine after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 have now been told they can leave their workplace and self-quarantine at home.
The Lac Des Iles mine, about 100 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, was ordered into quarantine by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit earlier this week.
The majority of workers will leave beginning Monday morning, according to Impala Canada, which owns the mine. The company said it had developed a "safe and orderly site departure plan" with the health unit.
Workers will be advised to self-quarantine at home or at a Thunder Bay hotel until April 18.
As of Monday, the mine will be in care and maintenance mode. Impala Canada has not set a target date for reopening the mine, saying in a statement simply that it will communicate those plans "in due course."
In a statement posted on social media, the company said workers will be paid for all scheduled hours for the month of April.
