Covid hits close to home
A worker from Glencore's Lydenburg Smelter tested positive for the coronavirus.
LYDENBURG – An employee of Glencore’s Lydenburg Smelter tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The smelter is situated just outside town, on the R36/Ohrigstad road.
Shivani Chetram, communications manager of Glencore, confirmed the positive result. She said that the employee tested positive on June 7. “Lydenburg Smelter management immediately commenced contract tracing and all primary contacts have been notified, placed in quarantine and advised not to report for duty.”
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She confirmed that primary contacts are in the process of being screened and tested.
“Furthermore, Lydenburg Smelter management has informed the Department of Health and is working closely with the department on further contact tracing and to contain the situation to protect our employees and community members.”
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Chetram said all areas where the employee worked have been submitted to an additional deep cleansing cycle. “The Department of Health, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Department of Employment and Labour, labour unions and the Minerals Council of South Africa, have been notified. The company continues to comply with the applicable Standard Operating Procedures related to Covid-19.”
On Wednesday the statistics for Covid-19 in the province stood at 183 positive cases of which nine were in the Thaba Chweu region.
There were 108 recoveries of which three were in the Thaba Chweu border and one recorded death.
