Impala Platinum mine has shut its Marula operations in Limpopo after 19 workers tested positive for COVID-19.
The mining company revealed that 19 of its workers tested positive for coronavirus with 17 cases locally transmitted.
Under lockdown level 4 mines are allowed to run at a 50% capacity.
Miners welfare has been debated before with many miners having pre-existing health and respiratory conditions due to the harsh mining environment they work in.
Impala Platinum mine said at least 19 workers have contracted the virus, with 17 of the confirmed cases locally transmitted, after the Health Department in the province initially reported 13 cases.
This suggests the prevalence of COVID-19 among local communities to be far higher than the company’s initial estimates.
Impala Platinum mine temporarily shut down due to COVID-19
Impala Platinum mine spokesperson Johan Theron revealed that the mine will embark on sanitizing high risk areas, verifying test results and completing all relevant health and safety protocols. Contact tracing will be undertaken with the help of the workers.
Joan Theron says that the infected workers showed no coronavirus symptoms and they have been isolated to prevent further infections.
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