Anglo Gold Ashanti confirms 164 Covid-19 cases at mine

AngloGold Ashanti on Sunday confirmed that 164 Covid-19 cases had been detected at its Mponeng mine in Carletonville on the West Rand.

“AngloGold Ashanti conducted 650 tests since last Thursday, including primary contacts and many who wished to be tested on a voluntary basis. This process has indicated 164 positive cases with only a handful of tests left to process,” the company said in a statement.

The vast majority of the cases were asymptomatic.

“All positive cases will be isolated in line with national health protocols, with on-site facilities available for those who may need them. Mponeng uses electronic tracking of all people underground as a safety tool in the event missing miners have to be located,” said the company.

“The department of health and the department of mineral resources and energy, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), regional health authorities and labour unions are being engaged in the process.”

Operations have been temporarily halted at the mine to complete contact tracing, and sanitise the workplace and key infrastructure.

Mponeng had the required Covid-19 risk management plans in place with protocols to ensure:

• Appropriate screening of staff arriving at work;
• Social distancing measures;
• Cleaning schedule for designated infrastructure, hand-sanitising facilities at the appropriate locations on site, and;
• Availability of personal protective equipment for employees, including gloves and face masks. Anyone displaying flu-like symptoms during the screening process is referred to the medical practitioner for an assessment and testing where clinically indicated.