Exploration Program Continuing
Toronto, Ontario, March 19, 2020 – Compass Gold Corp. (TSX-V:CVB) (Compass or the Company) places the safety and wellbeing of its employees and contractors as its highest priority. In light of the global concern about coronavirus (“COVID-19”), the Company has implemented a detailed program of health and safety protocols to protect personnel while ensuring the safe operation of the Company.
In Mali, access to the Company’s Bamako office as well as to all areas in the field has been strictly controlled with health screening in place for visitors, employees, and contractors. Everyone entering the office is being registered, their temperature is taken, and they are using the hand sanitizers and handwashing facilities provided. While the relatively remote location of Compass’s field operations and the fact that the majority of those working there are from Mali and West Africa somewhat mitigates the risk of infection coming from outside the region, the same health and safety protocols have also been implemented in all field camp areas and throughout the Company’s Sikasso Property operations in southern Mali.
Dr. Madani Diallo, Compass’s Exploration Manager, and a non-executive director, said, “At this point, there have been no reported cases of coronavirus infection in Mali, but we are constantly monitoring the situation. I was working here during the brief Ebola outbreak six years ago, and the government has already applied the same measures on all points of entry to the country, which limited the spread of that disease, including medical screening and hand washing for everyone. As we know that the situation could change at any time, we remain vigilant, but we are confident that we are doing what is necessary to protect our people.”
Although no COVID-19 cases have yet been diagnosed in Mali, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, with the advice of the Superior Council of National Defense and their scientific and health advisors, has recently decided to close all schools, bars, and night clubs, as well as to restrict passenger flights from affected countries and to prohibit meetings of more than 50 people.
Compass’s North American management team, which has always tended to work remotely, continues to do so. Appropriate health and safety protocols are being applied in the rare event that visits to the Toronto office are necessary.
EXPLORATION PROGRAM CONTINUES