Gem Diamonds : UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

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Friday, 24 April 2020

Gem Diamonds' main priority is the welfare of its employees, contractors and all those around its operations and office sites. Given the current situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Company is taking all of the necessary precautions to protect its people.

To date there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at or near the Letšeng mine or at any of its office sites. In accordance with best practice, as advised by the World Health Organisation, Letšeng has instituted compulsory personal testing for all persons entering its operations. In case of any suspected cases, Gem Diamonds has access to laboratory testing facilities for rapid diagnosis. All suspected cases will be immediately quarantined and the Letšeng mine has established separate accommodation and medical access in this event. Gem Diamonds is taking a number of other important protection steps, including limiting all non-essential travel and the effective use of video communications facilities throughout its operations. Employees whose functions permit it are being encouraged to work from home as far as possible. In addition, on-mine precautions include teams of essential employees in any particular area or function being separated from each other, in order to avoid any key function being rendered non-functional. Social distancing is present on all sites.

Letšeng is pleased to have donated a mobile office for COVID19 testing to Lesotho's Department of Health. The building will be situated at the National Laboratory in Maseru and will use the initial 25,000 testing kits donated by a third party.

In addition, Letseng has commenced a community safety awareness programme, in collaboration with the Department of Health, for some 10 villages in the Mokhotlong district of Lesotho - which is the district in which the Letseng mine operates. This programme will include the provision of PPE to community members in the form of soaps, sanitisers and masks.

Letseng has been permitted to re-open following the three week lockdown, with effect from Monday 27 April, and a full range of health and safety protocols is in the process of being finalized for the screening, quarantine (where suspected cases are identified) and disinfection points together with the above measures.

The Company will continue to provide updates as appropriate.