A Rio Tinto worker tested positive to COVID-19 in Weipa, Australia
2020-04-07 18:06:38 [Print]
A Rio Tinto worker has tested positive to COVID-19 after flying out of Weipa, sparking fresh calls for a total lockdown of north Queensland.
Queensland Health officials have done contact tracing for the Brisbane-based employee and briefed staff at the $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite mining project, south of Weipa on western Cape York.
Rio Tinto said the worker, who is not a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) contractor, only felt unwell five days after he flew out, and was not believed to be infectious while at the remote township two weeks ago.
FIFO contractors have been relocated to Weipa for at least six months to reduce the risk of transmission, Rio Tinto Weipa general manager Brad Welsh said.
Federal MP Bob Katter has called for all FIFO operations to stop immediately, saying: "If they want to work here, they must stay here."
Queensland Health officials have done contact tracing for the Brisbane-based employee and briefed staff at the $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite mining project, south of Weipa on western Cape York.
Rio Tinto said the worker, who is not a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) contractor, only felt unwell five days after he flew out, and was not believed to be infectious while at the remote township two weeks ago.
FIFO contractors have been relocated to Weipa for at least six months to reduce the risk of transmission, Rio Tinto Weipa general manager Brad Welsh said.
Federal MP Bob Katter has called for all FIFO operations to stop immediately, saying: "If they want to work here, they must stay here."