Antara, Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia has again shut down its public facilities in its work area in Mimika Regency, Papua Province. The decision came following a rise in the number of workers who contracted Covid-19.
Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said on Thursday, February 10, 2022, that the company continues to try to curb Covid-19 transmission in its work areas, from the highlands including Tembagapura and Ridge Camp, to the lowlands starting at Mile 38, Kuala Kencana to the Portsite Amamapare.
"Public facilities such as gymnasium or fitness centers, sports hall and eating areas only serve packaging to take home. The cinema is also officially closed starting February 7, 2022," he said.
Riza said that over the past few weeks the number of employees exposed to Covid-19 soared compared to December 2021. Despite the case surge, Riza said that copper and gold production is running normally.
Meanwhile, Mimika Regency's Health Office chief Reynold Ubra said that the rising cases of Covid-19 in Mimika were influenced by increasing infections in Freeport's work area, both in the Tembagapura area and in Kuala Kencana.
From January 1 to February 2, he said, the Health Office only reported 50 cases of Covid-19 in the areas. But on February 3, Mimika's cases increased by 68 in just 24 hours. As of February 8, 271 Mimika residents had tested positive for Covid-19.