PJSC Polyus ("Polyus", the "Company") provides an update regarding media reports that workers at its Olimpiada mine have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Company has implemented a broad-based COVID-19 testing programme across all of its business units. It covers all employees at both operational assets (including the current and in-coming shifts) and offices as well as the Polyus contractors. As part of this continuous testing programme, a certain percentage of tests have returned positive at Olimpiada.
Immediately after testing positive, the employees experiencing symptoms were transferred to hospitals in Severo-Yeniseysk and Krasnoyarsk where they are receiving the best medical care. COVID-positive workers without symptoms were placed into quarantine at medical facilities at Olimpiada. All personnel on site are subject to regular testing, social distancing and the mandatory use of personal protective equipment to minimize the risk of further infection.
To recap, special preventive measures have been introduced at Polyus’ operations since late March. These include health checks for workers on arrival, daily temperature checks for all staff and contractors and intensive deep cleaning and disinfection of areas and equipment. In the event that any worker develops COVID-19 symptoms quarantine zones are in place at all operating assets.
Operations at Olimpiada are currently uninterrupted. To date, the coronavirus has had only insignificant impact on production or product shipments at the Krasnoyarsk Business Unit.
The Company is working closely with health experts and with state emergency response services to ensure the virus is contained. The health and safety of Polyus employees remains the Company’s utmost focus. Polyus continues to strictly adhere to all recommendations issued by the Government of the Russian Federation and the regional health authorities regarding measures to help minimize the global spread of COVID-19.
Polyus
Polyus is the largest gold producer in Russia and one of the top ten gold miners globally with the lowest cost position. Based on its 2019 Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources, the Polyus group ranks the third by attributable gold reserves and gold resources among the world’s largest gold mining companies.
The Polyus group’s principal operations are located in Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Magadan regions and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
Enquiries:
Investor and Media contact
Victor Drozdov, Director Communications & Investor
Relations (CIR) Department
drozdovvi@polyus.com
Forward looking statements
This announcement may contain “forward-looking statements” concerning Polyus and/or Polyus group. Generally, the words “will”, “may”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “can”, “continue”, “opportunity”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “estimates” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to future capital expenditures and business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Polyus’ and/or Polyus group’s operations. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Polyus’ and/or Polyus group’s ability to control or estimate precisely and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on such statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement. Polyus and/or any Polyus group company assumes no obligation in respect of, and does not intend to update, these forward-looking statements, except as required pursuant to applicable law.