Cobre Panamá mine hit by COVID-19 surge

First Quantum Minerals announced new measures to combat COVID-19 at its US$6.5bn Cobre Panamá mine in Panama following a surge in cases.

The changes will see employees with chronic illnesses and those in support roles moved to remote working, while movement between different camps will be limited.

The changes follow detection of 123 cases of COVID-19, of which 80 caused mild symptoms with the remaining 43 asymptomatic, health ministry Minsa said.

“The actions taken in the global pandemic are adjusted according to circumstances, and the situation is changeable,” Cobre Panamá country manager Keith Green said in a release posted on Twitter.

Almost 100% of workers are vaccinated, the company added, with biosecurity protocols remaining in place in the mine.

None of the 123 people who tested positive for the virus have required hospital treatment, and all are in isolation at home or in the mine camp, Minsa added.

Cobre Panamá, one of Panama’s biggest ever investments, was suspended for around three months in 2020 due to COVID-19 cases in the workforce, which resulted in five deaths.

First Quantum increased 2021 production guidance at Cobre Panamá to 320,000-335,000t of copper from 310,000-335,000t following record output of 87,242t in Q3.