Reuters reports that Assore suspended production at its Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine this week after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.  

This was confirmed by the company, which on Wednesday highlighted the challenge that mining firms faced as they started up operations again as the national lockdown eases.  The worker was screened last week as part of return to work protocols and was tested after showing Covid-19 symptoms.  Work at the mine was suspended on Monday after the worker’s test proved positive a day earlier.  The suspension was a precautionary measure and the mine would “resume operations once management has successfully completed an audit,” a spokesman indicated.  The worker had been in self-isolation for a week and other employees who were in close contact with him would remain in self-quarantine until their test results were known, he indicated.  The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) criticised Assore on Tuesday for not informing the union about the case until Monday. The union has criticised the resumption of mining, saying workers cannot maintain social distancing in mines.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Helen Reid and Tanisha Heiberg at Moneyweb

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