More workers test positive for Covid-19 at Sasol’s Shondoni Mine
According to a message sent out to the workers, 28 employees who were in contact with the first patient were traced and have been tested, of whom four tested positive and eight tested negative.
SECUNDA – Employees of Sasol’s Shondoni Mine have been informed that four more workers from their Simunye Shaft have tested positive for Covid-19.
This comes after the first case was reported at the mine on Monday, 18 May.
According to a message sent out to the workers, 28 employees who were in contact with the first patient were traced and have been tested, of whom four tested positive and eight tested negative.
The remaining 16 employees are still waiting for their results. They have been self-isolating since Monday.
According to a reliable source who wants to remain anonymous, Sasol Mining has since also traced other employees who had been in contact with those who tested positive, and about 570 people are being screened and tested today, 20 May.
These people apparently include those who were using the same bus transport and their families, as well as employees from another mine.
There are allegedly also some Secunda medical practices that have been closed as precautionary steps.
According to an employee who had been tested and is still awaiting his results, this situation is nerve-wrecking.
Ms Rethabile Ndjibu, Senior Manager, Communication and Brand Management at Sasol, confirmed the new positive cases for the coronavirus in a press release today, 20 May.
She said Sasol Mining has controls in place, aligned to the Department of Health regulations, to ensure it safeguards the health and wellbeing of its employees.
“These measures seek to minimise the further spread of COVID-19 and include protocols to manage positive cases.
“On Monday 18 May, the MEC for Health in Mpumalanga, Ms Sasekani Manzini, visited Shondoni Colliery to review compliance to the gazetted level 4 regulations and verify the state of readiness for various levels, especially alert system level 3.
“Sasol remains committed to the safety and health of its employees, service providers and the community,” Ms Ndjibu concluded.
Also read: Mpumalanga’s Health MEC says employee at Shondoni Mine tested positive for Covid-19
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