“You can’t close that place down”: Community supports Covid positive workers at Naracoorte abattoir

Essential services shut, supermarket shelves bare as a border community battles a Covid-19 outbreak with close to half the cases linked to its major employer.

A country South Australian town is bracing for further community Covid-19 transmission as its major employer works on despite recording nearly 140 positive cases.

Naracoorte in the state’s South East is home to just over 8000 with 327 Naracoorte and Lucindale LGA residents testing positive to the virus – almost half of whom are employed at the town’s abattoir.

After widespread infection at the Teys factory, Premier Steven Marshall announced its Covid-positive staff and their close contacts could continue working while infections to prevent food shortages.

Close to 140 staff members at Teys Australia’s Naracoorte meatworks have tested positive for Covid-19. Picture Arj Ganesan

The SA Health exemption follows a similar staff shortage prevention move in the disability sector.

Carter’s Naracoorte Foodland manager Bryan Shuard was supportive of the call saying as long as people socially distanced and followed the guidelines the risk of getting Covid could be managed.

“You can’t close that place down – you can’t close any food production area down,” Mr Shard said.

“If these people aren’t working, well, then this situation is going to get worse and worse.

“I’ve got a son, who works out at the meatworks.

Aisles at Woolworths Naracoorte following the recent Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“He’s rather hygienic, he’s very common sense and he’s not going to associate with (infected) people to any great extent.”

Despite a staff member, who was not in store prior to testing, off work with the virus, Mr Shuard was not concerned about contracting it and said it was crucial to keeping food production services running.

While the shelves are well stocked at Foodland, down the street at Woolworths large gaps had formed in the aisles.

“I mean, we’re fortunate here, because if you have a look at the store,” he said.

“In saying that, only 80 per cent of our load came in last night.”

Shoppers at Foodland have been able to find their groceries despite shortages at other outlets. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Mr Shuard had a simple message for panic buyers.

“I don’t think those people have got brains,” he said.

“Common sense and common decency – if people are panic buying then they do not have either of those qualities.”

Triple vaccinated Naracoorte resident Caroline Redding said the outbreak made her worried for her children who had only recently become eligible to receive a vaccination.

“With young children that haven’t yet been vaccinated … it’s a concern,” Mrs Redding said.

“They’re booked in but … there’s a lot of people in the community with it.”

Service SA Naracoorte will be closed for the week due to Covid related staff shortages. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Service SA Naracoorte has also been affected by the outbreak, with locals now needing to drive to Mount Gambier.

A spokesperson said the branch had been forced to close on Monday due to staff shortages caused by Covid as they completed isolation requirements.

“At this stage, it is hoped both centres will be able to be opened next week, however this will depend on the ongoing impacts of the Omicron outbreak on staff availability,” the spokesperson said.

Elderly Naracoorte woman Gillian said she was frustrated by the closure and the hour trip to Mount Gambier was not practical.

“It’s just a bit of a pest really … I’ve got to do a registration but I might just have to send that off in the mail,” she said.