TRP records first Covid-pathogen
This mine was one of few in the region which was still free of any workers being affected or infected with the pathogen
LYDENBURG – Two Rivers Platinum Mine (TRP) has had its first worker testing positive for the feared Covid-19 coronavirus.
This mine was one of few in the region which was still free of any workers being affected or infected with the pathogen. On Wednesday, however, business leader of TRP, JJ Joubert issued a staff brief to all personnel to inform them of the first case.
Several residents begun speculating on the matter and forwarded the said statement to Steelburger/Lydenburg News.
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Joubert said in this statement to employees that a worker employed as an explosives issuer at TRP’s main decline shaft was identified through the screening process when arriving for work on Saturday night.
“The employee was isolated for further assessment by the medical team at the dedicated isolation area in our clinic and was subsequently referred for Covid-19 testing. The employee went into self-quarantine while awaiting the test results.”
The results for the pathogen test was released on Tuesday May 26. The worker tested positive and has since gone into isolation for two weeks for recovery from the virus. Once recovered, the employee will be allowed to return to work at the mine.
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In the meantime, TRP has commenced with a process of contact tracing as per government protocols. “Everyone who is identified as a primary contact will be referred for Covid testing. The shift that the employee is working in is currently on their off (time-off period) and will form part of the contact tracing,” the statement indicated.
It further stated that as part of the mines existing preventative measures, all common surfaces such as turnstiles, change houses and buses continue to be disinfected twice every week. “It is also at this time that I would like to reiterate the president’s words that the fight against the virus is in our hands. We need to remain alert and vigilant by embracing all preventative measures as previously mentioned.”
Joubert also said that he would like to appeal that in the same way they do not discriminate or stigmatise any person with flu, workers should not discriminate against those testing positive for the coronavirus. “I would like to assure you that we will spare no energy and effort to in fighting the spread of the virus by working with all relevant stakeholders internally and externally,” Joubert said.
It is not certain whether the current employee resides within the Thaba Chweu Local Municipal (TCLM) border or whether she hails from Limpopo. The Mpumalanga Department of Health’s updates on TCLM’s cases, however, do not reflect an increase in cases for this region and the statistics remain on two positive cases with one recovery.
