South32 have confirmed a male worker at Cannington Mine, 80km south of McKinlay has tested positive to COVID-19 though he picked up the virus on the coast when off duty.
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"The employee underwent testing after self-monitoring symptoms that met the testing criteria," the South32 spokesperson said.
"The employee was on rostered time off and had not been onsite for several days when his symptoms presented. He is now self-isolating at home and is under the management of the Townsville Public Health Authority."
South 32 said they continued to monitor the situation closely and are taking every precaution to minimise any impact.
"We are providing regular updates to employees and our recommendations are aligned with those of government and health authorities, including deferring travel and enforcing self-isolation for any employee, contractor or visitor who has returned from overseas," they said.
As of Sunday Queensland Health said there were 15 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) confirmed in Queensland taking the state total to 61.
It is not clear if the South32 worker is among the 15 as 14 are in south-east Queensland and the 15th was a 69 year- old man is being managed by New Zealand authorities after being confirmed with COVID-19 in the Townsville Public Health Unit.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
