Ok Tedi confirms 37 positive cases out of 341

THE Ok Tedi Mining Ltd in Western confirmed 37 Covid-19 cases after contact tracing and swab testing were conducted on employees and community members.
Out of the 341 sample sent to Australia for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, 37 were positive, 298 returned negative while six are still awaiting results.
The mine is currently on a 14-day lock down after the first seven confirmed cases were reported on Aug 5.
Managing director and chief executive officer Musje Werror said the results confirmed that there was community transmission at the mine site.
“Through conducting the large-scale testing programme, there will be more cases,” he said
“The positive tests confirm our concerns that community transmission is occurring.”
He said the health and safety of employees, their families, contractors and communities were the priorities of the mine management.
“We will continue to implement our Covid-19 management response programme to contain the spread of the virus as quickly as possible,” he said.
Of the 37 confirmed cases, 21 are from the single accommodation and the rest was from families at the company-provided housing in Tabubil. They have been isolated while contact tracing continues.