The WA Department of Health has confirmed two individual cases of COVID-19 at mine sites in the state’s Pilbara and Mid West regions.
A BHP contractor tested positive at the Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara, while a 29Metals worker at a Yalgoo mine in the Mid West also tested positive. The cases have forced almost 100 workers into isolation, as both companies follow all necessary procedures for close and casual contacts.
There are no indications operations have been affected at either mine.
A spokesperson from 29Metals said a contractor at the company’s Golden Grove site had shown COVID-19 symptoms before returning a positive PCR test on Sunday.
“He tested positive and by that stage he was not showing any symptoms, and he is now isolating for 14 days,” the spokesperson said. “Close contacts are also isolating and no other positive tests have been returned from those that have been tested.
“There has been no material impact on operations.”
A WA Department of Health spokesperson said public health officials are working with the site operator “to provide health advice and to ensure that any close contacts are now isolating”.
“WA Health contract tracers are directly notifying anyone who may have been an exposure risk,” the spokesperson said.
A BHP spokesperson told the ABC the company was also working with WA Health to conduct further contact tracing and was undertaking deep cleaning across the affected sites.
“The person is isolating at an accommodation village in line with government requirements and being provided with care and support while they await the results of further testing,” the BHP spokesperson said.
Reports indicate 14 close contacts at BHP’s Yandi iron ore mine are isolating for two weeks, with another 65 casual contacts currently in isolation until they return a negative test, while the case at 29Metals has sent 10 workers into two weeks of isolation.
Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) chief executive Paul Everingham said the WA mining and resources sector had been preparing for the eventual arrival of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago.
“These preparations include Infectious Disease Management Plans for each site, which outline detailed steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19,” Everingham said.
“The sector’s workforce is also well-prepared for this eventuality, with a double-dose vaccinated workforce on our remote operations and a supporting suite of robust control measures available to be scaled accordingly.
“Additionally, CME and its member companies would welcome any opportunity to introduce the isolation and close contact protocols announced last week by the WA Government sooner rather than later.
“As evidenced by current COVID-19 cases on WA mine sites, those protocols will allow operators to respond to positive cases in a way that prioritises the health and safety of our workforce while also providing for continuity of operations.”