GANTA, June (LINA) – Nimba County Health Officer, Dr. Philip Sahr, could not give details about the latest infection traced to the county, but iron ore concession ArcelorMittal said Wednesday that a “staff member” of its school shut down in Yekepa, who died in a hospital in Monrovia, “posthumously” tested positive for Coronavirus.
Rigorous contacts tracing relative to the latest case is underway, according to local heath report of the County Health Team (CHT).
Statistics of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), as at 15 June, indicate that Nimba has seen a total of 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases and four deaths.
The staff is said to have previously been admitted at the company’s hospital in the Yekepa concession area for non-COVID-19-related illness and was later referred to Monrovia for further treatment, where he died.
A number of colleagues and family members of the victim who must have come in contact with him in Yekepa or other areas have been told by health authorities to self-isolate.
“Currently none of the staff or family members is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and the family is in isolation,” ArcelorMittal said in a press release.
The company began mining iron ore in Yekepa since 2006 after signing a Mineral Development Agreement with the government of Liberia to mine and ship high grade iron ore from the region.
The company says it is continuing to enforce “strict adherence” to all COVID-19 preventive measures as prescribed by the Government of Liberia. It also says it has instituted additional measures for its staff and those accessing its concession areas.
“A review of the precautions and controls will be carried out immediately with a view to implement additional measures to limit any potential spread,” the press release stated.
“As a responsible business partner to Liberia and a company that places high importance on the safety and wellbeing of its workforce and the public, we will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders throughout this crisis,” the company assured.
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