Kinross Gold Mine Locks Down After Suspected Coronavirus

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Kinross Gold Corp. announced that its Kupol gold mine in Russia has been isolated. As per sources, this is considered to be the biggest mining lockdown since the outbreak of the virus infection in December last year.

It must be noted that two mine workers suspected of coronavirus symptoms were recently admitted to hospital. Both the workers are awaiting the results of their tests. One of them had returned to work from Italy. There has been no confirmation of any COVID-19 cases in the region so far.

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According to company spokesperson, the plant is continuing to operate on schedule, but the shipment of ore output has been kept on hold. The access to the mine by air has been suspended and the road route closed. Also, the company has blocked all the contacts between the mine complex and the nearest plant located at a distance of nearly 100 kilometres. The gold mine currently employs more than 850 mineworkers, he noted.

Kinross Gold Corp. announced that operations at the mine are progressing under self-isolation conditions and that all mine employees are under strict medical surveillance.

Kupol Gold Mine is a combination underground and open pit gold and silver mine in the Bilibinsky District of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of Russia. It has a capacity to produce 4,500 tonnes of ore per day.