Mining Magazine is making some of its most important coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic freely available to readers. For more coverage, please see our COVID-19 hub. To subscribe to Mining Magazine, click here.

In line with its COVID-19 management protocols and guidelines of the Ghana Health Service, 60 members of the Prestea gold mine team have been put under quarantine after two workers had tested positive for coronavirus, showing mild synptoms. 

The temporary skills shortage is likely to have some impact on production from 24 Level over the coming weeks until employees who are currently in quarantine are able to safely return to work, the company said.

It currently expects only minimal impact impact on development activities on 17 Level, which are crucial to the longer term viability of the operation.

Golden Star's other mine in Ghana, Wassa, has been unaffected by the pandemic, and operations continue as normal.

There is no change in the full-year production guidance of 195,000-210,000oz at a cash operating cost per ounce of US$790-US$850.

The supply chains at the Wassa and Prestea mines have not been impacted nor has the export and sale of gold doré.