COVID-19 Updates

Last updated on February 1, 2021

At New Gold, the safety, health and wellness of our employees and host communities is our highest priority. 

In light of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, we want to keep everyone informed on how we are responding to this situation as a company.

We have established a Pandemic Response and Business Plan Committee comprised of leadership from all locations that meets regularly and has developed and implemented pre-screening and business continuity plans. The Committee is established to ensure that we are assessing all potential risks and develop viable contingency plans that enable us to stay ahead of any potential safety and health risks for our employees and members of our host communities. Designated teams from relevant functions are proactively planning for various contingencies and responding to daily changes and circumstances. We are proactively preparing for the potential spread of COVID-19 to any of New Gold’s locations, with specific business continuity plans in place.

New Gold’s has taken numerous steps to ensure needs are being addressed in local communities. Our operations have shared action plans and preventative measures being implemented, while seeking and considering input from our employees, contractors, and communities to ensure we are delivering responsive actions consistent with broader efforts. Across New Gold we continue to identify and implement measures at our corporate office and at all our sites to protect our workforce and communities including:

Corporate Response Plan

• Eliminating all business travel (international and otherwise, except for travel to and from operation sites) that is not business critical, which may only occur with the express approval of a Senior Leadership Team member.
• Instituting self-quarantine measures for anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or who has travelled either internationally or domestically within the past 14-days.
• The corporate office has been renovated to meet Public Health physical distancing protocols and we are providing employees with the option of returning to the office on a voluntary part-time basis during the months of September and October. The maximum occupancy during this period will be 30%, which is approximately 9 people. We have implemented similar Preventative Measure Protocols that our Operations colleagues have in place, in order to keep our employees safe (e.g., Pre-screen questionnaire, Attendance Tracking, increased signage reminding employees to maintain physical distancing and cleaning protocols). 
• As of January 14th, 2021, following Provincial and Local Public Health advisory, we have temporarily paused our corporate employees' option of returning to the office. 
• We have provided regular COVID-19 company-wide communications including posters and emails about COVID-19, symptoms, and health and hygiene best practices.
• We are conducting ongoing monitoring of the status of COVID-19 through reliable sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and local public health agencies and have directed leaders and employees to advise and track any presumptive or confirmed COVID-19 cases that could potentially put employee at risk, along with how each case was handled.
• We have implemented increased cleaning on frequently touched surfaces at all locations and have provided hand sanitizer dispensers in common areas.
• We have confirmed that suppliers and contractors have also implemented preventative practices and have a business continuity plan in place.
• The New Gold’s Employee Assistance Program offered through LifeWorks is available to support all our employees and their families related to mental, physical, emotional and financial well-being.

Mine and Project Site Response Plans

Our mine and project sites have implemented a number of preventative measures. Additional details can be accessed via the following links:

• Rainy River Mine
• New Afton Mine

Our Host Communities

The safety of our people and host communities is our top priority. We continue to closely monitor the evolution of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its impacts and we will be regularly posting updates.

Please email us here if you are not sure who to contact about an urgent matter or if you have any questions: info@newgold.com

Employees and Contractors

We continue to closely monitor the evolution of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its impacts. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 among the New Gold workforce, each of our locations are implementing plans consistent with our safety standards and will issue communications relevant to each office and location, with the key priority being the health and well-being of everyone working at New Gold.

Protecting the health and safety of New Gold's workforce takes precedence above all else. We believe these steps are consistent with the direction from our community health experts to engage in physical distancing, use of face masks, will reduce the exposure and spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Communication 

We have activated our COVID-19 communication plan to keep our employees and host communities updated on our corporate activities at site, regionally and the corporate level. During this time, more than ever, please stay focused on your health and the health and safety of your families, colleagues and loved ones.

We all can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to abide by the Health Canada’s basic protective measures against the virus, outlined here.

Tip of the Day Provided by Ministry Health Officials

Do you have flu symptoms? Try this quick #COVID19 online self-assessment tool to see if you need testing:

• BC: https://bc.thrive.health/
• Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

What is COVID-19?

The Covid-19 (also known as the 2019 Novel Coronovirus) is a new respiratory virus. In confirmed cases of illness in humans, common symptoms have been acute, serious respiratory illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. This is the longest known infectious period for this disease. We are currently investigating if the virus can be transmitted to others if someone is not showing symptoms. While experts believe that it is possible, it is considered to be rare. Symptoms have included:

• new or worsening cough 
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• temperature equal or over 38°C
• feeling feverish
• chills
• fatigue or weakness
• muscle or body aches
• new loss of smell or taste
• headache
• gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting)
• feeling very unwell

Preventing Coronavirus

Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everyone who lives in Canada over the course of 2021. Until extensive immunization is achieved, national and local public health measures will continue to be essential to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

For more information, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/vaccines.html

Hygiene

Proper hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food
  • use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• when coughing or sneezing:
  • cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand
  • dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Clean high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water

How Coronavirus Spreads

Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:

• respiratory droplets generated when you cough or sneeze
• close, prolonged personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands

Current evidence suggests person-to-person spread is efficient when there is close contact.

Risks of Getting Coronavirus

Canadians are advised to avoid all non-essential travel

There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for individuals:

If you have even mild symptoms, stay home and call the public health authority in the province or territory you are in to inform them. They will provide advice on what you should do.

If you have COVID-19, reduce contact with other

If you are sick, reduce contact with others by:

• staying at home and self isolating (unless directed to seek medical care)
  • if you must leave your home, wear a mask or cover your mouth and nose with tissues, and maintain a 2-metre distance from others
• avoiding individuals in hospitals and long-term care centres, especially older adults and those with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
• avoiding having visitors to your home
• covering your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing and sneezing
• having supplies delivered to your home instead of running errands
  • supplies should be dropped off outside to ensure a 2-metre separation

How to Stay Updated on the Covid-19 Outbreak

Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

Ontario Centre for Disease Control: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/infectious-diseases/respiratory-diseases/novel-coronavirus

We will continue to update our information based on the latest data available.

Please email us here if you have any questions: info@newgold.com

We all can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to abide by the Health Canada basic protective measures against the virus, via this link