KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD PROVIDES STATEMENT ON COVID-19 VIRUS
March 29 2020 - 5:47PM
Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (“Kirkland Lake Gold” or
the “
Company”) (TSX:KL) (NYSE:KL) (ASX:KLA) was
informed on Friday, March 27, 2020 that a worker who had been at
Detour Lake Mine earlier this month has tested positive for the
COVID-19 virus. The worker arrived at the mine with no symptoms on
March 12th, began showing symptoms and self-isolated on March 14th
and was taken from site on the morning of March 16th. All protocols
were followed while the worker was on site. He received a positive
result on Thursday, March 26th and informed the Company on Friday,
March 27th.
All Detour Lake Mine employees were notified
upon the Company being informed of the positive test on March 27th
with instruction to be particularly vigilant in self-monitoring for
signs of symptoms, particularly until March 30th (14 days after the
worker’s departure from site). Employees were also instructed to
complete the Ontario health self-assessment and to self-isolate and
consult medical staff if the results indicated a need to do
so. In addition, the Company has been informed by public
health officials involved in the case, that all persons identified
by the worker as having been in close contact have been contacted
directly by the Porcupine Health Unit and instructed to seek a
medical assessment and to self-isolate if advised to do so.
Following a request by the Company, the Porcupine Health Unit
visited Detour Lake Mine on Saturday, March 28th to review the
Company’s health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19
virus.
The Company is not aware of any workers at
Detour Lake Mine, or at any of its other operations or offices,
that are showing symptoms or are in self-isolation at site.
At Kirkland Lake Gold, nothing is more important
than the health and safety of the Company’s workers, their families
and the communities in which they live and work. In response to the
unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, a number of health and
safety protocols have been introduced. The Company’s response to
COVID-19 is being constantly reviewed as developments occur and
will be adjusted as required to ensure the wellbeing of the
Company’s employees.
Health and Safety Protocols
- Remote work: Employees that can work from home
are being instructed to do so.
- Suspension of non-essential work and visits to
site: All non-essential work has been suspended, including
all exploration activities and the transitioning of Detour Lake
Mine to reduced operations (lowering the on-site workforce from
approximately 1,100 to 300). All non-essential visits to our
operations are now prohibited until further notice.
- Medical screening: All people arriving at work
are subject to medical screening; everyone’s temperature is taken
and they are required to complete the World Health Organization’s
medical questionnaire.
- Site and camp hygiene: Increased cleaning and
sanitizing have been introduced, particularly in commonly visited
areas; hand washing stations have been added, work areas and
equipment are being wiped down with sanitizer after use. (A deep
cleaning and disinfection of the worker’s housing quarters and
surrounding working areas was completed immediately after learning
of the positive test results.)
- Medical care: Working with medical
professionals, processes have been established for the isolation,
testing and care of employees showing signs of illness.
- Mandatory social distancing: Start and finish
times are being staggered to minimize the gathering of people;
chairs are being removed and spaced out in meeting areas and
lunchrooms; work teams are being reduced in size and workers
separated by floor markings and barriers in confined areas, with
meetings largely being done using video conferencing.
- Food safety: Initiatives include adding
hand-washing stations in all eating areas; removal of self-service
food options (salad bars, etc.), individual wrapping of meals and
desserts, keeping silverware and trays behind counters and
providing them separately.
- Job protection: Job protection for workers in
quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19, or those needing to
miss work to care for children during school closures.
About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.
Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a growing gold
producer operating in Canada and Australia that produced 974,615
ounces in 2019. The production profile of the Company is anchored
by three high-quality operations, including the Macassa Mine and
Detour Lake Mine, both located in Northern Ontario, and the
Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented
by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong
financial position with extensive management expertise.
For further information on Kirkland Lake Gold and to receive
news releases by email, visit the website www.klgold.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains statements which
constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the
plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Kirkland
Lake Gold with respect to future business activities and operating
performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the
words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan",
"anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar
expressions and include information regarding the reduction of
operations at the Detour Lake Mine and anticipated effects thereof,
the ability of the Detour Lake Mine to fully resume operations
effective April 30, 2020, the ability of the Company to continue
operations at the Detour Lake Mine in light of the pandemic and the
anticipated effects of the Company’s COVID 19 response
plan.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking
information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect
Kirkland Lake Gold's management's expectations, estimates or
projections concerning future results or events based on the
opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered
reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Kirkland
Lake Gold believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking information are reasonable, such information
involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be
placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors
could have material adverse effects on future results, performance
or achievements of the combined company. Among the key factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the
future impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and government response to
such pandemic, the ability of the Company to continue operations at
its mine sites in lieu of the pandemic and the risk of future shut
downs as a result thereof; future development and growth potential
of the Company’s projects; future exploration activities planned at
the Canadian and Australian properties; risks relating to equity
investments; risks relating to first nations and Aboriginal
heritage; the availability of infrastructure, energy and other
commodities; nature and climactic conditions; currency exchange
rates (such as the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar versus
the United States dollar); risks associated with dilution; labour
and employment matters; risks in the event of a potential conflict
of interest; changes in general economic, business and political
conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in
applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government
regulation. This forward-looking information may be affected by
risks and uncertainties in the business of Kirkland Lake Gold and
market conditions. This information is qualified in its entirety by
cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in
filings made by Kirkland Lake Gold, including its annual
information form for the year ended December 31, 2018 and financial
statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018 filed with the securities regulatory
authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at
www.sedar.com.
Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the
forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may
vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned,
anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Kirkland
Lake Gold has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties
and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially,
there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. Kirkland Lake Gold does not intend, and do
not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking
information except as otherwise required by applicable law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE
CONTACT
Anthony Makuch, President, Chief Executive
Officer & DirectorPhone: +1 416-840-7884E-mail:
tmakuch@klgold.com
Mark Utting, Vice-President, Investor Relations Phone: +1
416-840-7884 E-mail: mutting@klgold.com
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