Ok Tedi Mining has reported 37 new positive COVID-19 cases after a round of testing following its decision to suspend operations last week.

The company announced on August 5 that it had suspended operations for at least 14 days after seven workers tested positive for COVID-19.

The Ok Tedi open-pit mine is located in PNG’s Western Province and counts a number of Australians among its workforce, with FIFO arrangements via Cairns.

It said this week that it had since implemented a contact tracing, testing and isolation program at the mine site.

The first batch of 341 swab samples collected from the seven reported confirmed cases, other employees and community members were sent to Australia for PCR testing.

The results from the tests showed 37 new positive COVID-19 cases, 298 tests were negative while 6 were pending results, the company said.

“The positive tests confirm our concerns that community transmission is occurring,” managing director and chief executive officer Musje Werror said.

Given the large scale testing program, he said more positive results were expected.

The company indicated that of the 37 new cases, 21 were people living in the single camp accommodation while 16 were with their families in company-provided housing in Tabubil.

People recording a positive test result had been isolated and their close contacts had been quarantined and were being tested, the company said.