Olympic Dam worker currently isolating in Adelaide after testing positive to COVID-19
Mining giant BHP has confirmed one of its Olympic Dam workers has contracted COVID-19 while off site and is self-isolating.
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One of Australia’s largest underground mines has suffered a COVID-19 scare after an off-shift worker tested positive to the virus earlier this week.
Mining giant BHP has confirmed one of its Olympic Dam employees tested positive to COVID-19 off site.
A BHP spokeswoman told The Messenger the company was informed of the test on Monday.
“The identified person is currently asymptomatic, doing well and has been safely isolated,” she said.
“We can confirm they have not travelled to site or the Adelaide office since infection.
“They will remain isolated and we will provide a high level of care and support to this individual during this time.”
BHP also confirmed it had completed its own contact-tracing.
It is unclear what link the worker has to the Parafield coronavirus cluster, which has reached 23 cases.
“We have identified people who may have come into contact with the person to inform them of the situation, and the measures required to be taken,” said the spokeswoman.
“We have been very thorough in alerting anyone we know to have been in close contact with them.
“The health and safety of our workforce and communities remains our highest priority.”
Olympic Dam – almost 600km north of Adelaide – has a workforce of more than 3000 people.
From midnight last night, the state went into a mandatory lockdown for six days as SA health and the state government try to get on top of the recent outbreak.
In Wednesday’s press conference, Premier Steven Marshall explained by “pausing” community activity will significantly reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.
“Our contact-tracing team is working around the clock to track down every person who has been exposed to infection from this cluster,” he said.
“This world-class effort, by highly trained professionals, has already achieved outstanding
South Australia’s active coronavirus cases remain at 35 after zero new cases were reported on Thursday.
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