AngloGold Ashanti has taken the decision to voluntary suspend operations at its Cerro Vanguardia mine for 10 days due to the detection of COVID-19 cases among the workforce.

Local health and labour authorities are being engaged and a full sanitisation process of the site will commence, AngloGold Ashanti said in a statement.

It said essential activities will continue for the duration of the voluntary suspension.

Operations at Cerro Vanguardia are expected to resume on 20 November 2020, however, movements to and from the site will be restricted to essential personnel only, until 30 November 2020.

The production impact of this precautionary stoppage is estimated to be 8,000oz.

The balance of AngloGold Ashanti’s mines continues to operate as normal, employing a suite of measures to mitigate the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the statement added.

It said the health and safety of employees and host communities remains a priority.

AngloGold Ashanti is “fully supportive of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and is committed to working with and supporting the Argentinian government, particularly in the Santa Cruz province, to combat the virus”, the miner noted.

AngloGold Ashanti noted that it is “continually monitoring the situation related to the COVID-19 outbreak and remains in close contact with authorities in each country, with our employees and with our key suppliers and other business partners, to help ensure business continuity and mitigate any interruptions that may occur”.