Sugar refinery giant StarAfrica has temporarily suspended its operations after four of its employees tested positive for Covid. -19.
In a statement seen by GreatDykeNews24, the company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Regis Mutyiri revealed that the four employees tested positive during a routine test and one employee reportedly succumbed to the virus.
“Following reports that have appeared on social media platforms concerning a COVID-19 incident that occurred at Goldstar Sugars Harare on 15 July 2020, Starafrica corporation Limited wishes to provide clarification on the incident in this press statement.
“On 15 July 2020 four of a group of thirty eight employees, which had been sent for routine tests, tested positive for Covid 19.
“Sadly one of the four employees that tested positive subsequently passed away and the company expresses our deepest condolences and sympathy to his farnily, relatives and friends,” read the report.
“As there was a chance that these employees who tested positive could have interacted with other employees at the work place a decision was taken to temporarity close the operations at Goldstar Sugars and Country Choice Foods in strict adherence to the requirements of the public health authorities and WHO Guidelines,” reads part of the report.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe witnessed a sharp increase in covid-19 during the past week with 496 new case being recorded with the 13th of July recording the highest daily total since the virus began.
7 new deaths were recorded to bring the death toll to 25. 803 have been imported cases and 675 are locally transmitted cases. The past week has witnessed an increase in the number of local transmissions.