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Officials said they learned of the infected employee on March 14. The unidentified worker had returned to the site following travel to the UK and showed no symptoms upon arrival, even after a mandatory health screening.

However, hours after arriving at work, the employee experienced mild symptoms, after which he was placed in quarantine. Others who had been in contact with the worker were also quarantined.

In fact, Endeavour said, it had increased its overall preventive measures by placing a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for any employee or contractor that arrived in Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso.

"Each of the company's operations are continuing to manage and respond to coronavirus within the framework of the company's incident management and response plan, which was activated at the outbreak of COVID-19 and has been validated by an epidemiologist special advisor to Endeavour," the miner said.

"A business continuity programme is in place to protect employees, while ensuring the safe operation of the company."

The company said strict controls over its sites had been in place since early March. This includes health screenings for all and the cancellation of non-essential travel.

Endeavour confirmed it had not yet witnessed any production or operational impacts at any of its mines or exploration activities. Additionally, it said its inventory of supplies and equipment for its assets was "sufficient" and its orders with suppliers were intact.

The open-pit Houndé operation, located 250 kilometres southwest of Ouagadougou, is 90% held by Endeavour and 10% owned by the government of Burkina Faso.