COVID-19 historical information

19 August 2021

To date, Newcrest has not experienced any material COVID-19 related disruptions to production or to the supply of goods and services.

The number of COVID-19 cases at Lihir remains at low levels that are within the capability of the care and treatment and isolation facilities, with the majority of these cases continuing to be asymptomatic. Newcrest continues to strengthen its COVID-19 controls at Lihir, focusing on containment through extensive contact tracing and isolation procedures. Charter flights with restricted capacity are operating between Papua New Guinea and Australia, as are limited commercial flights between Port Moresby and Brisbane.

There were no material COVID-19 related events impacting gold production at Lihir during the financial year. However, as advised in the March 2021 quarterly report, the ability to attract labour, travel restrictions, contact tracing and associated isolation requirements has impacted total material mined. Delays have also been experienced on development projects (including Phase 14A ground support trials) and shutdown performance due to difficulty in mobilising and accommodating labour. There remains a risk of COVID-19 impacting production at Lihir and this continues to be closely managed.

All of Newcrest’s operations have business continuity plans and contingencies in place which strive to minimise disruptions due to the pandemic and to best position the operations to continue producing. Should any material impacts arise, Newcrest will inform the market in line with its continuous disclosure obligations.

31 May 2021

The number of cases testing positive for COVID-19 at Lihir remains at levels that are within the capability of the care and treatment and isolation facilities, with the majority of these cases continuing to be asymptomatic.

Following the travel suspension announced by the Australian Government between Papua New Guinea and Australia in March 2021, charter flights have resumed with restricted capacity. The limited commercial flight availability between Port Moresby and Brisbane continues to be utilised.

Newcrest continues to strengthen its COVID-19 controls at Lihir, focusing on spread containment through extensive contact tracing and isolation procedures.

No material impacts to FY21 gold production at Lihir have occurred to date. However, as announced in the March 2021 quarterly report, the ability to attract labour, travel restrictions, contact tracing and associated isolation requirements has resulted in an impact to total material mined. Should these conditions persist or worsen, there is the potential for production to be impacted.

29 March 2021

Newcrest is continuing to work with the Australian and Papua New Guinean Governments and other relevant authorities to manage both the escalation of COVID-19 cases across PNG and travel restrictions between PNG and Australia.

There has been an increase in the number of cases that have tested positive for COVID-19 at Lihir, with the majority of these cases being asymptomatic. Care and support continues to be provided for these quarantined patients until they are free from the virus.

Existing controls at Lihir have also been strengthened, with a focus on spread containment through extensive contact tracing and isolation procedures. Tracking devices that record close contacts and enable rapid contact tracing have been widely distributed and further controls to segregate the workforce have been implemented.

Gold production at Lihir has continued without interruption and contingencies are in place which seek to minimise disruption to the operation in the event of a significant number of operational employees and/or contractors contracting the virus.

19 March 2021

Travel suspension between Papua New Guinea and Australia

Newcrest  is currently assessing the implications of the two-week travel suspension announced by the Australian Government between Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Newcrest is working closely with the Australian Government to better understand details of the travel suspension and to determine and mitigate any potential impacts.

The Lihir operation is currently undergoing a planned maintenance shutdown and is in the process of progressively starting up. There is currently no anticipated interruption to gold production arising as a result of the travel suspension.

As always, the health and safety of Newcrest’s people and the local community is of primary concern.

A small number of COVID-19 cases amongst the workforce are currently being managed by Newcrest at Lihir, with patients remaining in quarantine where they are being monitored and supported by our medical staff until they are free of the virus.

Strict hygiene, social distancing and other COVID-19 management protocols remain in place at Lihir with comprehensive testing, quarantine and precautionary contact tracing procedures enforced. Lihir has a dedicated isolation camp and separate isolation and treatment facility where care and support can be provided.

Further updates will be provided through the COVID-19 page on the Newcrest website and the market will be kept informed of any material impacts in line with Newcrest’s continuous disclosure obligations.

19 January 2021

Newcrest is managing a number of positive COVID-19 cases at its Red Chris mine in British Columbia and on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea.

Comprehensive testing, quarantine and precautionary contact tracing procedures continue to be enforced across all Newcrest sites with the cases identified to date at Lihir and Red Chris being largely asymptomatic.

The Lihir and Red Chris operations remain unaffected by the positive cases with strict hygiene, social distancing and other COVID-19 management protocols in place.

As previously highlighted, all of Newcrest’s operations have business continuity plans and contingencies in place to minimise disruptions to the operations in the event of a significant number of operational employees and/or contractors contracting the virus.

It is expected that these plans will enable the operations to continue producing in line with the production schedule, and if there are any material impacts, Newcrest will inform the market in line with its continuous disclosure obligations.

11 January 2021 

There has now been a total of 12 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 recorded at Lihir island

Nine of these cases have since returned negative results and have been released from isolation.

All 12 cases experienced either no symptoms or mild symptoms and all are in good health.

The operation remains unaffected by the positive cases through the diligent application of a strict COVID-19 management policy, including extensive contact tracing and testing.

18 December 2020

Newcrest is currently managing two confirmed cases of COVID-19 at its Red Chris Mine in British Columbia

The patients were essentially asymptomatic and were identified through our testing regime upon arrival at site. They have been isolated in line with strict COVID-19 protocols.

Contact tracing has been conducted with persons of interest moved into quarantine as a  precautionary measure where they will be monitored.

The operation remains unaffected by these cases and elevated precautionary measures on site have been implemented.

15 December 2020

Newcrest is currently managing four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Lihir Island

All patients are well and will remain in quarantine where they are being monitored and supported by our medical staff until they are free of the virus.

Contact tracing and testing is currently underway with persons of interest moved into quarantine as a precautionary measure where they will be monitored.

The operations remain unaffected by the positive cases, with strict hygiene, social distancing and other COVID-19 management protocols remaining in place.

9 November 2020

Arriving passenger into Lihir tests positive for COVID-19 

Newcrest confirms that it is managing a COVID-19 case in its isolation and treatment facility at Lihir Island. The individual, a PNG national, flew into Lihir from another part of PNG on 2 November, and as per protocol was isolated along with the other arrivals in a designated isolation camp while testing was conducted, and the 14-day isolation period followed.

Precautionary contract tracing and testing has been completed, including the testing of all other passengers from the individual’s flight and all tests on these other passengers have returned negative to COVID-19. All passengers will continue to be tested and monitored while they remain in isolation.

The operations remain unaffected by the positive case as the individual did not attend any workplaces and did not interact with the workforce.

There are no other suspected cases of COVID-19 at this time.

The individual has minor symptoms and has been moved from the isolation camp into a separate isolation and treatment facility where care and support are being provided.