Government reopens mining in COVID-19 hit regions

In the updated gazetted order, while imposing travel restrictions on the same three regions, the Government announced that mining will be permitted but under strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.

Government reopens mining in COVID-19 hit regions

The Government has decided to lift the restrictions on mining in Regions 7, 8, and 9 although the number of coronavirus cases in those communities remains on the rise.

In the updated gazetted order, while imposing travel restrictions on the same three regions, the Government announced that mining will be permitted but under strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.

It was back in July that the previous government instituted restrictions on mining in the interior locations as the numbers started to climb.

The COVID-19 numbers have been climbing steadily and as of Saturday, Region Seven which is one of the largest gold mining communities had recorded a total of 155 cases with a large number of those cases being in the mining area of Aranka.

While the curfew in other regions will now be from 9pm to 5am, the curfew in Regions 7,8 and 9 will remain between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

Additionally, there is now expected to be stricter monitoring of the mining areas.

There have been calls for a total closure of mining activities in the interior regions, but gold miners and their associations have indicated their opposition to such calls.

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