COVID-19

Czech coal mine closes due to COVID-19 outbreak

The Czech Republic’s only coal producer, OKD, has had to close the Darkov coal mine in the city of Karviná after over 200 workers tested positive for COVID-19.

 Darkov's plant has a nominal input capacity of 800 tonnes per hour

Darkov's plant has a nominal input capacity of 800 tonnes per hour

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OKD had to call in medics from the Czech Army to provide support at the facility, one of the last coal mines in the country, after 212 cases were identified there during testing of 2,400 workers and their families.

Darkov is located in Silesia along alongside a Polish region that has also seen large outbreaks in its mines

The director of the regional hygienic station in the nearby city of Ostrava, Dr Pavla Svrčinová, told Czech Radio's Radiozurnal that further mass testing was to take place over the weekend.

Ivo Vondrak, the head of the regional government, also confirmed Monday that only workers who are working on necessary tasks such as ventilation and water pumping were staying on in the mine.

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