GFGL confirms first COVID-19 case

Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL), on Wednesday, confirmed the first COVID-19 case at their Tarkwa Mine.

According to the company, the patient who is one of their mining contractors and his wife have tested positive to the deadly virus.

This was contained in a press release made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The release noted that the company received the test results from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research on May 3, 2020, the couple has been since been isolated are in stable condition receiving treatment.

Gold Fields and the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Rapid Response Team have begun aggressive contact tracing among the workforce and within the Mines host communities, it explained.

The release further said samples of the patient’s colleagues who have been identified through the ongoing contact tracing exercise have been taken and were currently undergoing self-isolation for fourteen days.

It stated that “We have also tracked the employee’s movement over the past few weeks, and together with the Municipal team are tracing other people with whom he may have come into contact within the Tarkwa community”

“We want to assure our employees, members of our host communities, and the general public that we are on high alert and have activated our COVID-19 emergency response protocols to contain the spread of the virus at our operational areas and within our host communities” the released emphasized.

The company pointed out that their production at the Mine has not been affected, hence they would continue to prioritize the health and safety of their employees and the communities hosting its operations.