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109-720: In May 2021, a work camp for the mine experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, including the first cases of the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the territory. The Mary River area has "long been known to Inuit as Nuluujaat, a landmark used to travel through North Baffin Island" in what is now known as Qikiqtani Region, Nunavut. The Mary River property contains four iron ore deposits, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 that contain high grade direct shipping iron ore (DSO), with ore grades between 65% and 70%. Because they require no further processing to be used in blast furnaces for steel-making they are priced higher than lower grades. The iron ore body

218-494: A strain of coronavirus known as "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" ( SARS-CoV-2 ). COVID-19 is mainly transmitted when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets / aerosols and small airborne particles containing the virus. Infected people exhale those particles as they breathe, talk, cough, sneeze, or sing. Transmission is more likely the closer people are. However, infection can occur over longer distances, particularly indoors. The transmission of

327-589: A systemic inflammatory response syndrome . Among healthy adults not exposed to SARS-CoV-2, about 35% have CD4 T cells that recognise the SARS-CoV-2 S protein (particularly the S2 subunit) and about 50% react to other proteins of the virus, suggesting cross-reactivity from previous common colds caused by other coronaviruses. Labrador Trough The Labrador Trough or the New Quebec Orogen

436-614: A "small single mine in a remote location" in the Arctic. By 2020, Mary River mine operation consisted of an open-pit mine with "crushing and screening facilities", a tote road and a port infrastructure at Milne Inlet, for the transportation and loading of iron ore for shipment by sea. The mine has an airstrip and an Mary River Aerodrome for passengers and freight. The company leases freighters, including panamax bulkers and ice-breakers. Under their current certificate they use 22 ultra-large dump trucks to transport iron ore to Milne Inlet. In

545-607: A 2021 letter to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, the mayor of Pond Inlet, Joshua Arreak, said that the hamlet would not support the phase two project unless Baffinland agreed to slow down their increase in production to yearly increments of 1.5 million tonners per year." By January 2021, the NIRB confirmed that the final public hearings regarding the Phase 2 proposal, remained on schedule in spite of requests made by

654-607: A Toronto-based "mining entrepreneur and dealmaker", who had spent his "entire career negotiating mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the mining sector" to create the Baffinland acquisition vehicle, Nunavut Iron Ore Acquisition Inc. with funds from the Energy and Minerals Group. Nunavut Iron Ore is owned by The Energy & Minerals Group, a "private Houston-based fund that makes equity investments of $ 150 to $ 400 million in entities with talented, experienced management teams" which

763-460: A capacity of 18 Mtpa 18 million metric tons, or tonnes" in Phase 3. Their 2014 Phase 2 submission asked for an allowance to use ultra-large dump trucks to convey the iron ore "tote road"—which by then had already been built—to a replacement port at Milne Inlet near Pond Inlet. They requested the doubling of the existing tonnage of 6 million metric tonnes to 12 million metric tonnes of ore to be shipped from Milne Inlet for up to 10 months each year, and

872-419: A certain critical size, generally thought to be <100μm diameter, evaporate faster than they settle; due to that fact, they form respiratory aerosol particles that remain airborne for a long period of time over extensive distances. Infectivity can begin four to five days before the onset of symptoms. Infected people can spread the disease even if they are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic . Most commonly,

981-538: A consultant to prepare confidential reports. In March 2010, entered into an exclusivity agreement with ArcelorMittal who were seriously considering the possibility of a transaction with Baffinland. In July Waheed met with Baffinland CEO Richard McCloskey about a phased approach which would include an early stage production of up to two million tonnes of iron ore at Mary River hauled via the "tote road" and shipped from Milne Inlet. In August 2010, after completing his report for Baffinland, Waheed had partnered with Bruce Walter,

1090-427: A controlling interest in Baffinland. They took it public in 2004, and established Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation. Baffinland then had the funds to complete testing and surveys, and they confirmed the purity of the ore at 65-70% pure and the potential of the resource—337 million tons. The Mary River Mine was "one of the largest undeveloped iron ore deposits in the world". By 2006, the price of iron ore increased as there

1199-467: A controversial move by the AAND minister immediately gave Baffinland an exemption, that bypassed Nunavut's regulatory channels, which led to the beginning of a second multi-year NIRB assessment process that has continued into 2021. A 2015 Nunavut News article said that the federal government had placed itself at the "centre of a big regulatory fight" over BIMC's "ambitious and controversial expansion plan" for

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1308-483: A deal to prevent either ArcelorMittal or Nunavut Iron Ore from acquiring the company he had spent decades of his life building. McCreary strongly disagreed with the phase approach that Waheed had suggested, in which the company would begin to haul and iron ore on a tote road from Mary River mine to Milne Inlet where it would be shipped. A January 2011 La Presse article described the Mary River Mine, as "one of

1417-526: A doubling of its existing tonnage. Other major changes requested included expansion of the Milne Inlet port facilities. Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation's open-pit mine has attracted international attention for its planned Phase 2 expansion, that would see a dramatic increase in shipping from its Milne Inlet port in Eclipse Sound through a narwhal habitat in the waters near Greenland. Milne Inlet

1526-523: A high-profile case, by allegedly exploiting insider information that Waheed had gathered while on contract with Baffinland earlier in 2010, to mount a hostile takeover in August. By November 2011, Arcelor owned 70% but Nunavut Iron planned on acquiring another 30% stake for $ 1.5 billion. Baffinland is owned jointly by Nunavut Iron Ore, which owns 72%, and ArcelorMittal with 28% as of June 30, 2020, according to Moody's. On December 28, 2012, after four years of

1635-422: A higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Some complications result in death. Some people continue to experience a range of effects ( long COVID ) for months or years after infection, and damage to organs has been observed. Multi-year studies are underway to further investigate the long-term effects of the disease. COVID‑19 transmission occurs when infectious particles are breathed in or come into contact with

1744-516: A hundred years. Radio Canada described Baffinland's request for an amendment to ship from Milne Inlet instead of building the expensive South Railway on permafrost as "contentious". Baffinland's request stirred fear and distrust from residents of nearby communities, who appealed to Valcourt to turn down the request. On July 6, 2016, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), one of the organizations that sits on an oversight board,

1853-551: A load of 53,624 tonnes of iron ore on a bulk carrier destined for Germany. As the first shipment was being loaded at Milne Inlet, the local community were very concerned, as Baffinland had requested that the use of icebreakers to lengthen the three-month long shipping season so they could "ship ore through Baffin Bay 10 months of the year." CBC reported in November 2014, that Baffinland's proposal to ship iron ore from Milne Inlet 10 months

1962-498: A planned production of 18 million tonnes per annum (MT/a). By September 2006, a QIA member vocally supported the development of the Mary River project, saying that, "You're talking about [jobs] for your grandchildren—and their grandchildren." By 2006, Baffinland began investigating the feasibility of a cold-weather railway from the Mary River to a mining port and by 2006, Canarail had provided an estimate of CA$ 350 million to build

2071-423: A range of effects, such as fatigue , for prolonged periods after an initial COVID-19 infection. This is the result of a condition called long COVID , which can be described as a range of persistent symptoms that continue for months or years. Long-term damage to organs has been observed after the onset of COVID-19. Multi-year studies are underway to further investigate the protracted effects of long COVID. Reducing

2180-686: A rigorous social and environmental assessment process, which included numerous public meetings with local Inuit communities that would be impacted by the development, the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) issued BIMC its certificate and license for its initial 2008 Mary River project. This consisted of mining and shipping iron ore at a rate of 18 Million tonnes per year (Mt/a), constructing the South Railway and port facilities at Steensby Inlet. In 2013, Baffinland requested and received an amendment to its 2012 FIRB certificate for

2289-507: A time until right at the very end that we weren't conducting negotiations on multiple fronts...There were a lot of moving pieces in this thing and a lot of players who could potentially have come in and played a role . . . Let's just say that what was visible publicly was 25% of what was going on." By 2014, the Ontario Securities Commission had exonerated Waheed and Walter, who had been accused of insider trading, in

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2398-405: A tote road connecting Mary River mine to Milne Inlet was already underway. Milne Inlet is a shallow inlet that was only ice-free from August to October and opened onto the environmentally sensitive waters of Eclipse Sound and the protected waterways surrounding Bylot Island and Sirmilik National Park , for which Pond Inlet is the gateway hamlet. According to David K. Joyce who visited the site in

2507-671: A year left Nunavutmiut feeling shock, surprise and anger. The NIRB informed Minister Valcourt, and a Baffinland Vice President, Erik Madsen on August 31, 2015, that they were recommending to the federal government that Baffinland's Phase 2 amendments were significant enough to require a full assessment which would include public hearings. These significant amendments included "new and upgraded infrastructure at its Milne Inlet port", as well as other changes, NIRB also requires an "addendum to its current final environmental impact statement detailing proposed changes, impacts and mitigation efforts". On February 3, 2017, Baffinland requested an expansion of

2616-744: Is a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. It was first isolated from three people with pneumonia connected to the cluster of acute respiratory illness cases in Wuhan. All structural features of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus particle occur in related coronaviruses in nature, particularly in Rhinolophus sinicus (Chinese horseshoe bats). Outside the human body, the virus is destroyed by household soap which bursts its protective bubble . Hospital disinfectants, alcohols, heat, povidone-iodine , and ultraviolet -C (UV-C) irradiation are also effective disinfection methods for surfaces. SARS-CoV-2

2725-403: Is a "small inlet" that "opens into Eclipse Sound, a primary summering area for Nunavut's largest population of narwhal". Freighters now enter and exit Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area —a national marine conservation area on their way to the sea. The iron ore shipping lanes, which go through a narwhal habitat, will threaten this population which is just beginning to return after

2834-637: Is a 1,600 km (994 mi) long and 160 km (99 mi) wide geologic belt in Canada , extending south-southeast from Ungava Bay through Quebec and Labrador . The trough is a linear belt of sedimentary and volcanic rocks which developed in an Early Proterozoic rift basin . To the west is the Archean Superior Craton . To the east are the rocks of the Archean Rae Craton . The sedimentary rocks and volcanics of

2943-571: Is associated with COVID-19 and is reported in as many as 88% of symptomatic cases. Published data on the neuropathological changes related with COVID-19 have been limited and contentious, with neuropathological descriptions ranging from moderate to severe hemorrhagic and hypoxia phenotypes , thrombotic consequences, changes in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM-type), encephalitis and meningitis . Many COVID-19 patients with co-morbidities have hypoxia and have been in intensive care for varying lengths of time, confounding interpretation of

3052-433: Is available, guidelines and recommendations for hypertensive patients remain. The effect of the virus on ACE2 cell surfaces leads to leukocytic infiltration, increased blood vessel permeability, alveolar wall permeability, as well as decreased secretion of lung surfactants. These effects cause the majority of the respiratory symptoms. However, the aggravation of local inflammation causes a cytokine storm eventually leading to

3161-402: Is because pregnant women with COVID‑19 appear to be more likely to develop respiratory and obstetric complications that can lead to miscarriage , premature delivery and intrauterine growth restriction . Fungal infections such as aspergillosis , candidiasis , cryptococcosis and mucormycosis have been recorded in patients recovering from COVID‑19. COVID‑19 is caused by infection with

3270-522: Is closely related to the original SARS-CoV . It is thought to have an animal ( zoonotic ) origin. Genetic analysis has revealed that the coronavirus genetically clusters with the genus Betacoronavirus , in subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B) together with two bat-derived strains. It is 96% identical at the whole genome level to other bat coronavirus samples (BatCov RaTG13 ). The structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 include membrane glycoprotein (M), envelope protein (E), nucleocapsid protein (N), and

3379-495: Is in the Labrador Trough . In 2017 Canadian iron ore mines produced 49 million tons of iron ore in concentrate pellets and 13.6 million tons of crude steel. Of the 13.6 million tons of steel 7 million was exported, and 43.1 million tons of iron ore was exported at a value of $ 4.6 billion. Of the iron ore exported 38.5% of the volume was iron ore pellets with a value of $ 2.3 billion and 61.5%

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3488-498: Is providing the majority of the "equity financing for the Offer". After ArcelorMittal made an offer to purchase Baffinland, Nunavut Iron made a counteroffer. Over a period of about six months, a bidding war took place, resulting in an almost doubling of the offered price. Baffinland discouraged its shareholders from selling to either ArcelorMittal or the hostile bidder Nunavut Iron Ore. In December, McCreary, went to China hoping to finalize

3597-595: Is the cause of the bud release and the formation of the viral envelope. The N and E protein are accessory proteins that interfere with the host's immune response. Human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) is the host factor that SARS-CoV-2 virus targets causing COVID‑19. Theoretically, the usage of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and ACE inhibitors upregulating ACE2 expression might increase morbidity with COVID‑19, though animal data suggest some potential protective effect of ARB; however no clinical studies have proven susceptibility or outcomes. Until further data

3706-469: Is the viral component that attaches to the host receptor via the ACE2 receptors. It includes two subunits: S1 and S2. Studies have shown that S1 domain induced IgG and IgA antibody levels at a much higher capacity. It is the focus spike proteins expression that are involved in many effective COVID‑19 vaccines. The M protein is the viral protein responsible for the transmembrane transport of nutrients. It

3815-938: The Alpha variant (B.1.1.7, formerly called the UK variant), first found in London and Kent, the Beta variant (B.1.351, formerly called the South Africa variant), the Gamma variant (P.1, formerly called the Brazil variant), the Delta variant (B.1.617.2, formerly called the India variant), and the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), which had spread to 57 countries as of 7 December. On December 19, 2023,

3924-755: The COVID-19 pandemic . The symptoms of COVID‑19 are variable but often include fever, fatigue, cough, breathing difficulties , loss of smell , and loss of taste . Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. At least a third of people who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms . Of those who develop symptoms noticeable enough to be classified as patients, most (81%) develop mild to moderate symptoms (up to mild pneumonia ), while 14% develop severe symptoms ( dyspnea , hypoxia , or more than 50% lung involvement on imaging), and 5% develop critical symptoms ( respiratory failure , shock , or multiorgan dysfunction ). Older people are at

4033-588: The Spanish flu , Middle East respiratory syndrome , and Zika virus . In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended 2019-nCoV and 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease as interim names for the virus and disease per 2015 guidance and international guidelines against using geographical locations or groups of people in disease and virus names to prevent social stigma . The official names COVID‑19 and SARS-CoV-2 were issued by

4142-482: The small intestine . The virus can cause acute myocardial injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system . An acute cardiac injury was found in 12% of infected people admitted to the hospital in Wuhan, China, and is more frequent in severe disease. Rates of cardiovascular symptoms are high, owing to the systemic inflammatory response and immune system disorders during disease progression, but acute myocardial injuries may also be related to ACE2 receptors in

4251-710: The spike protein (S). The M protein of SARS-CoV-2 is about 98% similar to the M protein of bat SARS-CoV, maintains around 98% homology with pangolin SARS-CoV, and has 90% homology with the M protein of SARS-CoV; whereas, the similarity is only around 38% with the M protein of MERS-CoV . The many thousands of SARS-CoV-2 variants are grouped into either clades or lineages . The WHO, in collaboration with partners, expert networks, national authorities, institutions and researchers, have established nomenclature systems for naming and tracking SARS-CoV-2 genetic lineages by GISAID , Nextstrain and Pango . The expert group convened by

4360-548: The B.1 lineage. Several notable variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerged throughout 2020. Cluster 5 emerged among minks and mink farmers in Denmark . After strict quarantines and the slaughter of all the country's mink , the cluster was assessed to no longer be circulating among humans in Denmark as of 1 February 2021. As of December 2021 , there are five dominant variants of SARS-CoV-2 spreading among global populations:

4469-542: The CNS, possibly within an infected white blood cell. Research conducted when Alpha was the dominant variant has suggested COVID-19 may cause brain damage. Later research showed that all variants studied (including Omicron) killed brain cells, but the exact cells killed varied by variant. It is unknown if such damage is temporary or permanent. Observed individuals infected with COVID-19 (most with mild cases) experienced an additional 0.2% to 2% of brain tissue lost in regions of

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4578-562: The COVID-19 infection may have different symptoms, and their symptoms may change over time. Three common clusters of symptoms have been identified: a respiratory symptom cluster with cough, sputum , shortness of breath , and fever; a musculoskeletal symptom cluster with muscle and joint pain, headache, and fatigue; and a cluster of digestive symptoms with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. In people without prior ear, nose, or throat disorders, loss of taste combined with loss of smell

4687-749: The Labrador Trough were intensely deformed and subjected to high grade metamorphism along with the Churchill terrain during the Trans-Hudson orogeny . It is a northeast extension of the Circum-Superior Belt and is terminated to the south by the Grenville Front Tectonic Zone . Radiometric dates of 1883-1870 Ma are reported for mafic , ultramafic , carbonatite and lamprophyre intrusions within

4796-539: The Mary River Mine. When the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) told BIMC on April 8, 2015, that their Phase 2 expansion would require a new NIRB assessment as it did "not conform to the NBRLUP, Baffinland had requested that then- Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development , Bernard Valcourt , grant an NBRLUP exemption. The Canadian Arctic and Arctic sovereignty had been a focus during

4905-540: The Mary River Project claims and leases. In 1978, Gordon McCreary submitted his Queen's MBA thesis on the feasibility of developing iron ore in the Mary River area with a focus on transporting the iron ore in Arctic conditions to tidewater by permafrost land, and by sea through packed ice. Richard McCloskey, who became Baffinland's CEO in 2010, had been friends with McCreary in the engineering department at Queen's in 1969. In 2002, McCreary and McCloskey gained

5014-699: The Mary River-Milne Bay transportation corridor, which was granted on March 18, 2018. On April 23, 2018, Baffinland submitted a request to the NPC and NIRB to amend the NBRLUP and Mary River project certificate, which increased the total production/shipping amount from 18 to 22.2 Mtpa, with an additional 4.2 Mtpa of ore being transported by truck over the Mary River-Milne Inlet "tote road" they had already constructed. In their August 2018, general summary, Baffinland described this amendment to

5123-598: The Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization of Pond Inlet and the Hamlet of Clyde River for postponements, as their southern attorneys could not be physically present with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place. In 2021, in Iqaluit and Pond Inlet, Nunavut Impact Review Board public hearings are underway for the proposed expansion of the mine, which would result in an increase in shipping at Milne Inlet,

5232-491: The North Railway and shipped through Milne Inlet. These increased production projections with an annual production of 30 million tonnes of iron ore was to be achieved by constructing two railways, north and south, and by using both Milne Bay and Steensby Inlet for shipping. COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 . The first known case

5341-499: The Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC), Baffinland had begun to request major changes to its 2012 regulations, within a year of the completion of NIRD's 2012 environmental review. Phase 2 expansion also includes plans for an increase of up to 176-ships transitting through the "environmentally sensitive waters" of Eclipse Sound before reaching the open sea. It included extending the shipping season to ten months with

5450-403: The Phase 2 proposal as having an increase from 6 Mtpa to 12 Mpta, as well as, the construction of a new North Railway that would run parallel to the existing Milne Inlet "tote road". In the Phase 2 proposal 2018 amendment, the total mine production would eventually increase to 30 Mtpa. This includes the original certificate of 18 Mpta transported on the South Railway, and the 12 Mpta transported on

5559-675: The South Railway, where they would also build a new C$ 0.7b port facility at a total estimated cost for the project of CA$ 4.1 billion. The proposal had included a South Railway to an "all-season deep-water port and ship loading facility at Steensby Inlet" where the iron ore would be shipped through the Foxe Basin . Public consultations were held in April 2007 in Pond Inlet , Arctic Bay , Cape Dorset , Clyde River , Igloolik , Hall Beach , and Kimmirut —the hamlets that were "most impacted" by

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5668-495: The Trough. It is a large iron ore belt developed on banded iron formations and has had mining operations since 1954. At least two large magmatic events occurred in the Labrador Trough. The first event 2,170 million years ago engulfed an area of 30,000 km (12,000 sq mi) and the second 1,880 million years ago covered a similar area of 30,000 km (12,000 sq mi). The geological history of

5777-475: The WHO declared that another distinctive variant, JN.1, had emerged as a "variant of interest". Though the WHO expected an increase in cases globally, particularly for countries entering winter, the overall global health risk was considered low. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect a wide range of cells and systems of the body. COVID‑19 is most known for affecting the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) and

5886-759: The WHO on 11 February 2020 with COVID-19 being shorthand for "coronavirus disease 2019". The WHO additionally uses "the COVID‑19 virus" and "the virus responsible for COVID‑19" in public communications. The symptoms of COVID-19 are variable depending on the type of variant contracted, ranging from mild symptoms to a potentially fatal illness. Common symptoms include coughing , fever , loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia), with less common ones including headaches , nasal congestion and runny nose , muscle pain , sore throat , diarrhea , eye irritation , and toes swelling or turning purple, and in moderate to severe cases, breathing difficulties . People with

5995-551: The WHO recommended the labelling of variants using letters of the Greek alphabet , for example, Alpha , Beta , Delta , and Gamma , giving the justification that they "will be easier and more practical to discussed by non-scientific audiences". Nextstrain divides the variants into five clades (19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, and 20C), while GISAID divides them into seven (L, O, V, S, G, GH, and GR). The Pango tool groups variants into lineages , with many circulating lineages being classed under

6104-412: The authors said that Baffinland's "massive Mary River project was the most dramatic example—Baffinland "radically curtailed its investment and development plans, cancelling a proposed railway and port development...and scaling back its project investment to $ 740 million from an initial projection of $ 4 billion." Iron ore is the "most expensive ingredient in steelmaking." Because of its abundance worldwide,

6213-515: The brain connected to the sense of smell compared with uninfected individuals, and the overall effect on the brain was equivalent on average to at least one extra year of normal ageing; infected individuals also scored lower on several cognitive tests. All effects were more pronounced among older ages. The virus also affects gastrointestinal organs as ACE2 is abundantly expressed in the glandular cells of gastric , duodenal and rectal epithelium as well as endothelial cells and enterocytes of

6322-591: The brain found as complications leading to death in people infected with COVID‑19. Infection may initiate a chain of vasoconstrictive responses within the body, including pulmonary vasoconstriction – a possible mechanism in which oxygenation decreases during pneumonia. Furthermore, damage of arterioles and capillaries was found in brain tissue samples of people who died from COVID‑19. COVID‑19 may also cause substantial structural changes to blood cells , sometimes persisting for months after hospital discharge. A low level of blood lymphocytess may result from

6431-428: The brains of those who have died from COVID‑19, but these results need to be confirmed. While virus has been detected in cerebrospinal fluid of autopsies, the exact mechanism by which it invades the CNS remains unclear and may first involve invasion of peripheral nerves given the low levels of ACE2 in the brain. The virus may also enter the bloodstream from the lungs and cross the blood–brain barrier to gain access to

6540-409: The clear jelly liquid found in lung autopsies of people who died of COVID-19. One possibility addressed in medical research is that hyuralonic acid (HA) could be the leading factor for this observation of the clear jelly liquid found in the lungs, in what could be hyuralonic storm, in conjunction with cytokine storm . One common symptom, loss of smell, results from infection of the support cells of

6649-528: The construction of the more environmentally-sensitive—but much higher capital investment intense—South Railway in 2010 during the bidding war and to consider an alternate proposal a 100 km (62 mi) Mary River-Milne Inlet tote road. In 2018, Baffinland requested and received permission to increase the Early Revenue Phase amount of metric tons they could haul and ship a year to 6 metric tons. In November 2019, Baffinland said that because of

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6758-406: The data. Of people who show symptoms, 81% develop only mild to moderate symptoms (up to mild pneumonia ), while 14% develop severe symptoms ( dyspnea , hypoxia , or more than 50% lung involvement on imaging) that require hospitalization, and 5% of patients develop critical symptoms ( respiratory failure , septic shock , or multiorgan dysfunction ) requiring ICU admission. At least a third of

6867-587: The entire Baffin Island area—for the Mary River project. The proposal was for an open pit iron ore mine, to be developed and exploited on Inuit-owned land (IOL). The proposal, which was informed by the commissioned report, estimated a total cost of CA$ 4.1 B, and included a CA$ 1.2 B 149 km (93 mi) cold-weather railway running south—the South Railway—from the mine to a CA$ 0.7B deep-water all season facility in Steensby Inlet in southern Baffin with

6976-482: The expansion of the Milne Inlet port facilities. Phase 2 expansion also includes plans for an increase of up to 176-ships transitting through the protected waters of Eclipse Sound before reaching the open sea. CBC reported in November 2014, that Nunavutmiut felt shock, surprise and anger at these proposed changes. Other amendments included operating 75 ultra-large dump trucks, instead of the 22 required by Mine proposal. The increased number of trucks would require widening

7085-721: The expression of ACE-2, thereby facilitating the SARS-Cov2 virus to enter cells and to replicate. A competition of negative feedback loops (via protective effects of interferon alpha) and positive feedback loops (via upregulation of ACE-2) is assumed to determine the fate of patients suffering from COVID-19. Additionally, people with COVID‑19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have classical serum biomarkers of CRS, including elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer , and ferritin . Systemic inflammation results in vasodilation , allowing inflammatory lymphocytic and monocytic infiltration of

7194-428: The eyes, nose, or mouth. The risk is highest when people are in close proximity, but small airborne particles containing the virus can remain suspended in the air and travel over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur when people touch their eyes, nose or mouth after touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated by the virus. People remain contagious for up to 20 days and can spread

7303-525: The face. While drugs have been developed to inhibit the virus, the primary treatment is still symptomatic , managing the disease through supportive care , isolation , and experimental measures . During the initial outbreak in Wuhan , the virus and disease were commonly referred to as "coronavirus" and "Wuhan coronavirus", with the disease sometimes called "Wuhan pneumonia". In the past, many diseases have been named after geographical locations, such as

7412-504: The finished ore production was 1,331 thousand wet metric tonnes (wmt), and by 2018 it reached 5,443 wmt—in 2019 it increased slightly to 5,700 wmt. The local Hunters and Trappers Association, who had been included in the NIRB public meetings, became increasingly concerned with acoustic and iron ore dust pollution, and—in the early years— fuel and contaminated water pollution. By 2014, the global price of iron ore had declined dramatically. The new owners had already begun to consider abandoning

7521-453: The first deposit of iron ore alone would "last between 20 and 34 years" if they shipped between 18 and 30 million tons annually. Because of the purity of the iron ore, there was no processing required so it was direct-shipping. There would be less environmental impact. In 2008, a joint venture agreement was signed with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2009. At that time, Nunavut Tunngavik controlled

7630-473: The global price of iron ore was about US$ 150 a tonne; it reached a peak of US$ 177 in August 2011. Arcelor Mittal Canada—formerly Québec Cartier Mining Company —has a huge Fermont, Quebec iron ore mine complex at Mont-Wright that is similar in scale to the Mary River iron ore project, that it now also co-owns. Arcelor Mittal operates its private railway, the Cartier Railway connecting to Fermont

7739-523: The heart. ACE2 receptors are highly expressed in the heart and are involved in heart function. A high incidence of thrombosis and venous thromboembolism occurs in people transferred to intensive care units with COVID‑19 infections, and may be related to poor prognosis. Blood vessel dysfunction and clot formation (as suggested by high D-dimer levels caused by blood clots) may have a significant role in mortality, incidents of clots leading to pulmonary embolisms , and ischaemic events (strokes) within

7848-503: The host cell. Following viral entry, COVID‑19 infects the ciliated epithelium of the nasopharynx and upper airways. Autopsies of people who died of COVID‑19 have found diffuse alveolar damage , and lymphocyte-containing inflammatory infiltrates within the lung. From the CT scans of COVID-19 infected lungs, white patches were observed containing fluid known as ground-glass opacity (GGO) or simply ground glass. This tended to correlate with

7957-452: The hostile takeover was one of the most "exciting", "intriguing", and "challenging of his career." He described how he had "masterminded" a joint offer with ArcelorMittal, following a "four-month battle for Baffinland" that resulted in the two companies making a "joint offer for Baffinland of $ 1.50 per share, valuing the company at $ 590 million." Walter depended heavily on their legal firms that "earned their keep on this one because there wasn't

8066-539: The hundreds of workers, fuel and equipment. McCreary, who served as the company's CEO from 2004 until March 2010, began to seriously seek out investors. Shipping the ore seemed to become more viable as the Arctic sea ice was shrinking. A 4-year long $ 170 million commissioned feasibility study, submitted in February 2008, was described by the Canadian Mining Journal as "robust". The report said that

8175-528: The infection, children may develop paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome , which has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease , which can be fatal. In very rare cases, acute encephalopathy can occur, and it can be considered in those who have been diagnosed with COVID‑19 and have an altered mental status. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , pregnant women are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID‑19. This

8284-580: The iron ore market is volatile and subject to fluctuations. The iron ore industry is cyclical. In 2008, shipment figures of iron ore "broke historical records at US$ 6.2G" and mining investment reached US$ 2G. By 2011, China accounted for half of the global production of iron ore, used mainly for steel-making and export. By 2011, iron ore mining in Quebec's Labrador Trough was experiencing a comeback—development projects included Arcelor Mittal 's Port-Cartier and Fermont and Schefferville . From 2010 through 2013,

8393-454: The lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs). The lungs are the organs most affected by COVID‑19 because the virus accesses host cells via the receptor for the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is most abundant on the surface of type II alveolar cells of the lungs. The virus uses a special surface glycoprotein called a " spike " to connect to the ACE2 receptor and enter

8502-409: The lung and the heart. In particular, pathogenic GM-CSF-secreting T cells were shown to correlate with the recruitment of inflammatory IL-6-secreting monocytes and severe lung pathology in people with COVID‑19. Lymphocytic infiltrates have also been reported at autopsy. Multiple viral and host factors affect the pathogenesis of the virus. The S-protein , otherwise known as the spike protein,

8611-401: The main port for the mine. Environmental concerns include the impact of 176 ships travelling to and from Milne Inlet annually. Milne Inlet "opens onto and lies within" Tallurutiup Imanga —a Canadian national marine conservation area—and a narwhal habitat. The NIRB public hearings regarding the Phase 2 expansion scheduled for December 2020, were controversial. Among the changes to be discussed

8720-471: The mine's Marine Environment Working Group, criticized Baffinland for a lack of transparency. According to the WWF, by 2016, long after the project's 2012 approval, Baffinland lacked "formal guidelines to inform the level of data the company collects on its project, and how its analyses are reported". In 2019, revenues were $ 507 million. In their 2020 credit rating for BIMC, Moody's described the Mary River Mine, as

8829-576: The mine. In 2011, ArcelorMittal—the owner of Hamilton, Ontario's Dofasco —invested $ 2.1B in the expansion of Fermont iron ore mine complex. By May 2011, the Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal Group—the world's largest steel producer and the co-owner of Baffinland—had plans to increase its annual production of iron ore concentrate from "14 million tons to 100 million tons by 2015". The price of iron ore declined to US$ 60 in 2014. It reached US$ 128 in August 2020. By 2007, construction of

8938-447: The moment a person first becomes infected and the appearance of the first symptoms. The median delay for COVID-19 is four to five days possibly being infectious on 1–4 of those days. Most symptomatic people experience symptoms within two to seven days after exposure, and almost all will experience at least one symptom within 12 days. Most people recover from the acute phase of the disease. However, some people continue to experience

9047-517: The most promising undeveloped iron deposits on the planet" that was "hiding north of Baffin Island, in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. On January 14, 2011, Nunavut Iron and ArcelorMittal agreed to a merger. In 2014, ArcelorMittal had retained the position of Project Operator. Walter described his role in the 2011 "battle" for "control of Baffinland Iron Mines (BIM-T) and its massive Mary River iron ore project." Walter said that

9156-480: The olfactory epithelium , with subsequent damage to the olfactory neurons . The involvement of both the central and peripheral nervous system in COVID‑19 has been reported in many medical publications. It is clear that many people with COVID-19 exhibit neurological or mental health issues . The virus is not detected in the central nervous system (CNS) of the majority of COVID-19 patients with neurological issues . However, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected at low levels in

9265-619: The only company worldwide that was operating in the Canadian Arctic year-round. At the 2009 NIRB public hearings in Igloolik—which is near the proposed marine shipping route from the proposed Steensby Inlet port—the major concern was the impact of the icebreakers operating year-round on marine life in particular, and the environment in general. In 2008 and 2009, the Nunavut government's Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated , that controlled

9374-488: The peak viral load in upper respiratory tract samples occurs close to the time of symptom onset and declines after the first week after symptoms begin. Current evidence suggests a duration of viral shedding and the period of infectiousness of up to ten days following symptom onset for people with mild to moderate COVID-19, and up to 20 days for persons with severe COVID-19, including immunocompromised people. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus   2 (SARS-CoV-2)

9483-411: The people who are infected with the virus do not develop noticeable symptoms at any point in time. These asymptomatic carriers tend not to get tested and can still spread the disease. Other infected people will develop symptoms later (called "pre-symptomatic") or have very mild symptoms and can also spread the virus. As is common with infections, there is a delay, or incubation period , between

9592-499: The premiership of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 until November 2015. By May 2015, Valcourt was at the "centre of a big regulatory fight" over Baffinland Iron Mines Corp's "ambitious and controversial expansion plan" for the Mary River Mine, when Valcourt granted the exemption. Baffinland then brought its contentious amended Phase 2 proposal directly to the Nunavut Impact Review Board. The first shipment from Mary River mine left Milne Inlet on August 8, 2015, with

9701-572: The project's final environmental impact statement (FEIS). The initial 2012 certificate was still in force, allowing Baffinland to transport and ship 18 Mtba through Steensby Inlet if and when the South Railway and port were built. On April 23, Baffinland asked the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) and NIRB for a further amendment to the North Baffin Regional Land Use Plan which would allow them to increase production from 4.2 to 6 Mtpa and to allow them haul and ship using

9810-457: The project. A crucial part of Baffinland's plan was to use nine 190,000-tonnes icebreakers, making a trip every second day year-round, in a shipping route from the proposed Steensby Inlet, through Foxe Basin and Hudson Strait to markets overseas—which would be "unprecedented in Arctic shipping history". Baffinland hired Fednav, a Canadian company headquartered in Montreal, which was at that time

9919-478: The railway. Baffinland had considered two options—a North Railway and a South Railway—a 105-kilometre (65 mi) route to Milne Inlet and a 143-kilometre (89 mi) route to Steensby Inlet. As of 2009, Canada, with 7.9 billion tons of iron ore reserves, had nearly 42% of the global iron ore resources. The majority of the iron ore in Canada comes from Nunavut's Mary River Mine and from Schefferville, Quebec , which

10028-520: The resource exploitation of Inuit owned lands, signed a joint venture agreement and memorandum of understanding with Baffinland. During the financial crisis of 2008 - 2009 , Baffinland had difficulty raising the required capital. In 2007 and 2008 Baffinland mined a large bulk of samples of iron ore from Mary River deposit 1 to be tested by ArcelorMittal and ThyssenKrupp Steel AG in their large-scale blast furnaces in Europe. Baffinland shipped 113,217 tonnes of

10137-439: The resource exploitation of Inuit owned lands. The agreement allowed Baffinland exploration and resource development rights to 170 km (66 sq mi) of Inuit-owned land adjacent to the mine-site. Their initial 2008 development, which was based on the recommendations of 4-year study, anticipated initial production of 18 million tonnes per annum (MT/a) and construction of a CA$ 1.2b 150 km (93 mi)-long cold weather

10246-416: The respiratory tract, people with severe COVID‑19 have symptoms of systemic hyperinflammation. Clinical laboratory findings of elevated IL‑2 , IL‑6 , IL‑7 , as well as the following suggest an underlying immunopathology: Interferon alpha plays a complex, Janus-faced role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Although it promotes the elimination of virus-infected cells, it also upregulates

10355-859: The risk of long COVID includes staying up to date on the most recent COVID-19 vaccine, practicing good hygiene, maintaining clean indoor air, and physical distancing from people infected with a respiratory virus. Complications may include pneumonia , acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure , septic shock , and death. Cardiovascular complications may include heart failure, arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation ), heart inflammation , thrombosis , particularly venous thromboembolism , and endothelial cell injury and dysfunction. Approximately 20–30% of people who present with COVID‑19 have elevated liver enzymes , reflecting liver injury. Neurologic manifestations include seizure , stroke, encephalitis , and Guillain–Barré syndrome (which includes loss of motor functions ). Following

10464-614: The road, "twinning" portions of it, from one lane to two, and twinning some bridges. The port facilities would need to be enlarged, to house more staff, and to store more ore. Milne Inlet is not as open to large, deep draft cargo vessels as Steensby Inlet. Therefore, Baffinland wanted to increase the number of departures to 150 per year. The price for iron ore dropped by approximately 40% between October 2013 and September 2014. Baffinland requested changes to existing regulations to allow for 12 million metric tonnes of ore to be shipped from Milne Inlet for up to 10 months each year, which represented

10573-493: The sample. In order to ship the iron ore Baffinland had to upgrade the Milne Inlet "tote road" to an all-weather condition. According to the Baffinland January 2010 internal report, ArcelorMittal found that the Mary River fine ore was superior to that which they were using. In February 2010, McCreary hired an experienced mining executive, Jowdat Waheed —an alumnus of Sherritt International and director at Sprint —as

10682-416: The shipping season ending on November 15. Baffinland submitted its Mary River Phase 2 Proposal to the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) on October 29, 2014, and has plans for even more expansion in a Phase 3, with a potential to eventually produce 18 million tonnes more annually in the future. According to a June 2020 Moody's Investors Service credit report, "Baffinland plans to expand the Mary River mine to

10791-486: The summer of 2007, the road was expected to carry hundreds of 200 tonne dump trucks per day, every day, for several decades. By August 2007, the US subprime mortgage crisis had negatively impacted Canadian commercial paper , causing it to suddenly crash. With 95% of Baffinland's CA$ 45.9 million invested in commercial paper—which would normally be very reliable—they had to get an emergency line of credit to pay for provisions for

10900-499: The tote road and Milne Inlet port. On May 28, 2014, the NIRB approved Baffinland's Early Revenue Phase proposal after a review that took place from 2013 to 2014. Baffinland's initial Early Revenue Phase allowed the company to haul and ship up to 4.2 metric tons per year. Mary River Mine became operational in September 2014, and by August 8, 2015, the first shipment of ore from the mine, departed for Germany from Milne Inlet. In 2015,

11009-566: The uncertainty of the NIRB Phase 2 assessment process, they were laying off 586 Mary Mine contract employees, including 96 Inuit and 490 non-Inuit. As of 2021, Baffinland is still in its Early Revenue Phase as defined by the NIRB. The board has already extended the period so that the company could "continue... hauling and shipping of up to 6 million tonnes (Mtpa) of iron ore" annually until the end of 2021. Prior to its formal submission of its October 29, 2014 its Mary River Phase 2 Proposal to

11118-516: The virus acting through ACE2-related entry into lymphocytes. Another common cause of death is complications related to the kidneys . Early reports show that up to 30% of hospitalised patients both in China and in New York have experienced some injury to their kidneys, including some persons with no previous kidney problems. Although SARS-CoV-2 has a tropism for ACE2-expressing epithelial cells of

11227-752: The virus even if they do not develop symptoms. Testing methods for COVID-19 to detect the virus's nucleic acid include real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR), transcription-mediated amplification , and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT‑LAMP) from a nasopharyngeal swab . Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and distributed in various countries, many of which have initiated mass vaccination campaigns . Other preventive measures include physical or social distancing , quarantining , ventilation of indoor spaces, use of face masks or coverings in public, covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing , and keeping unwashed hands away from

11336-509: The virus is carried out through virus-laden fluid particles, or droplets, which are created in the respiratory tract, and they are expelled by the mouth and the nose. There are three types of transmission: "droplet" and "contact", which are associated with large droplets, and "airborne", which is associated with small droplets. If the droplets are above a certain critical size, they settle faster than they evaporate , and therefore they contaminate surfaces surrounding them. Droplets that are below

11445-604: Was identified in Wuhan , China, in December 2019. Most scientists believe the SARS-CoV-2 virus entered into human populations through natural zoonosis , similar to the SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV outbreaks, and consistent with other pandemics in human history. Social and environmental factors including climate change , natural ecosystem destruction and wildlife trade increased the likelihood of such zoonotic spillover . The disease quickly spread worldwide, resulting in

11554-486: Was a global shortage for the first time since the 1970s. It was at this time that interest in developing iron ore mines in both the Labrador Trough, near Schefferville , Quebec and in Mary River had increased. In or around the mid-2000s, BIMC presented a proposal to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA)—the regional Inuit organization authorized by the Nunavut government, that represents Inuit in

11663-423: Was identified in 1962 by Murray Edmund Watts , who was the regional head of Baffinland predecessor company—British Ungava Explorations Ltd. (Brunex). Watts had sighted Mary River's four massive iron ore deposits—large black circles of 65-70% pure iron ore—from his Cessna airplane. Watts died in 1982, and had never been able to find investors for the project. In 1986, a private company, Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd., held

11772-587: Was iron ore concentrates with a value of $ 2.3 billion. In 2011, the Canadian government, under the premiership of Stephen Harper , fostered Arctic exploration and industrial mining as the "beacon of the future" that would "unlock development possibilities in the North." By 2013, "mineral exploration funds" had begun to "dry up" and new development was being scaled back across Northern Canada. In their 2013 book Northern Canada : history, politics, and memory ,

11881-401: Was the addition of the North Railway, a 110 kilometres (68 mi) railway to the mine's port at Milne Inlet to replace the "tote road". The final public hearings for the NIRB review of Phase 2 expansion are scheduled for March 2021. When the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) announced on April 8, 2015, that BIMC's Phase 2 amended project had not conformed to requirements under the NBRLUP, in

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