SUDBURY -- A workplace COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the IAMGOLD Cote Mine Project, Public Health Sudbury & Districts said Friday.

The news comes one week after another outbreak was declared at Vale's Totten Mine.

In a statement May 18, Cote Gold Project Manager Luc-Bernard Denoncourt.had this to say:

"On Friday May 14, Public Health Sudbury and Districts declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Outland, a contractor to the Cote Gold Project. The outbreak declaration is specific to Outland.

"All affected employees and contacts of this contractor have been removed from site. The project has increased testing to ensure the Outland outbreak does not further impact the site.

"The safety of the site workforce is our highest priority and we will continue to work with public health authorities and review COVID-19 protocols as the situation evolves."

The health unit also reported nine new COVID cases in its coverage area Friday, including eight in Greater Sudbury and one in Sudbury district.

There have now been 2,044 cases since the start of the pandemic, with 64 cases still active. Twenty-eight people have died from illnesses related to COVID.