Troy Resources workers contract COVID-19

-mass testing announced

Several employees of Australian-owed mining company Troy Resources Guyana Inc (TRGI) have tested positive for COVID-19, the company disclosed yesterday, while announcing plans for mass testing at its Karouni work site.

The company did not say how many of its employees have tested positive but Stabroek News was told by sources that the figure is more than five. The positive results were discovered from tests done both on and offsite.

The company also announced that all employees who are to be deployed to the Region Seven mine site must be tested and show a negative result prior to being allowed to travel into the site.

The mandatory testing is now a part of the safety protocols put in place by the company to prevent the spread of the virus among workers.

Following the discovery of the positive cases, the COVID-19 Task Force and representatives of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Public Health were immediately notified and a course of action was discussed and agreed upon.

TRGI yesterday stated that the COVID-19 Task Force is in support of the additional and mass testing being implemented by TRGI and all results are being shared with the Task Force. TRGI has roughly 300 employees at the project site at any one time.

The company said it continues to follow the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and all onsite medical personnel are managing the response.

The release noted that TRGI will cover all costs attached to the testing, which is being done by a private medical firm.

Additionally, a memorandum sent to all employees informed them that all persons will have to go through pre-travel screening before being granted permission to enter the work site.

Workers were told that all employees and contractors must visit the company’s Georgetown office to be screened before they are granted any permission to travel.

“There will be a tent located to the right side of the building where all screening will be done by an assigned doctor. Part of our screening is a mandatory rapid test in addition to the regular screening,” the memorandum informed employees.

Once they test negative they will receive approval to travel to the site. However, should an employee test positive after the rapid test, they will be subjected to a PCR test.

Those persons travelling by road, the company said, will be screened at the Tri-Corner by its onsite medical personnel before being allowed to enter its camp. Persons travelling by air should present themselves at the Georgetown office two hours prior to their departure time to allow time for the screening process, the company informed workers.