Bolivia-based Minera San Cristóbal has suspended operations for the second time owing to COVID-19 outbreak, announced the company on August 24.
COVID-19 infections continue to spread in South-American nations making it difficult for miners to work due to proximity in mines. San Cristóbal SA is Bolivia’s largest mine with high zinc, lead and silver deposits.
The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. Production at the company resumed in May after being suspended for the first time in March, when COVID-19 infections spread among miners. The company will resume operations after adopting safer working conditions for its 1,400 workers onsite. Medical checks on workers are being carried out, so far 168 suspected infections have been identified and 41 have tested positive.
Bolivia reported 109,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 4,500 deaths as on August 24.