Anglo American addresses rumours Covid-19 has shut down mine operations

A Central Queensland mining giant has responded to rumours one of its sites has closed down because of Covid-19. Read its response to the wild speculation.

A Central Queensland mining company has responded to wild social media speculation that operations had ceased in light of recent Covid-19 cases.

Following six confirmed cases linked to Grosvenor mine on Sunday, an Anglo American spokesman said employees were still onsite at the mine but numbers had been reduced.

“Grosvenor Mine has been reduced to only personnel required to cover statutory and essential services until Wednesday 29th December to enable us to continue to work through the situation,” the spokesman said.

It is understood other employees will return to the site at the earliest on Thursday December 30 where the situation will be monitored.

It is understood other Grosvenor employees will return to the site at the earliest on Thursday December 30.

The first Covid-19 case at Grosvenor was from an interstate worker who had returned a negative rapid antigen test at Anglo American’s Brisbane airport facility before boarding a flight to Moranbah on Tuesday, December 21.

The Anglo American spokesman at the time said the man was tested again when he was made aware he may have been in contact with someone with Covid-19.

He was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 on December 24 and was asymptomatic.

On December 26 the Anglo American spokesman confirmed five more workers had tested positive and were in isolation.

Rapid antigen testing has been in place at the Brisbane airport for workers since Monday December 20.

Originally published as Anglo American addresses rumours Covid-19 has shut down mine operations