New Surf Coast and Geelong Covid cases; workers at Colac’s Australian Lamb Company tested

Workers at the Australian Lamb Company facility in Colac — the site of a major outbreak in 2020 — are being tested after two employees were identified as close contacts of a known Covid case.

Australian Lamb Company workers in Colac are being tested for coronavirus after two employees were identified as close contacts of a known case.

The abbattoir was the epicentre of Colac’s coronavirus outbreak in 2020.

ALC confirmed on Wednesday night that a former employee had tested positive for coronavirus and two current employees were primary closes contacts and had been ordered to isolate for 14 days.

Other staff were being tested as a precaution.

“ALC continues to run the business in accordance with strict Covid-safe procedures and our Covid-safe plan,” a spokesman said.

GEELONG TWO NEW COVID CASES; SURF COAST ONE

New Covid cases have been recorded for Geelong and the Surf Coast as Victoria reported another record number of infections.

One new case was reported for the Surf Coast on Wednesday, and two for Greater Geelong.

Barwon Health said a small number of cases were recorded across the south west region in Lorne, Colac, Camperdown and Warrnambool.

ID checks on the approach to Torquay

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said investigations into acquisition were underway and the said the community would be notified of any relevant exposure sites as soon as possible.

Victoria reported 950 new locally acquired cases on Wednesday – a new daily record.

As of Wednesday, Geelong hospital had 15 Covid positive inpatients.

Nine of those inpatients were in the ICU.

Ms Bibby confirmed of the positive inpatients, three had had one dose of their vaccination and 12 were not vaccinated.

None of the inpatients were fully vaccinated.

More than 1800 Covid tests were conducted across the region on Tuesday.

Barwon Health says it has worked to bolster its casual nursing bank in preparation for an expected increase in patients with Covid.

ID checks on the approach to Torquay

“We have recruited newly-graduated health professionals, together with a small number of people who have returned to the workforce to assist in the pandemic response across varying disciplines and skillsets,” spokeswoman Kate Bibby said.

“As a Covid-19 streaming hospital, we play a vital role in supporting the health of all Victorians.

“Barwon Health planning parameters are informed by Department of Health modelling and are consistent with the state requirements for capacity to meet the needs of people with Covid.”

Victoria’s acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said daily case figures would continue to rise.

“We know from both modelling and experience in NSW our case numbers will continue to climb,” he said on Wednesday.

“But it is absolutely with in our power to slow the spread and to prevent thousands of cases and hundreds of people from becoming seriously ill and some people losing their lives.

“We can do that by following the public health directions, social distancing and getting vaccinated. Vaccinations remain our best weapon to fight back against this deadly virus.”

Professor Cowie also revealed on Wednesday that of Victoria’s 15,238 local coronavirus cases since July 12 this year, 79 per cent were eligible to be vaccinated at the time of their infection and diagnosis but a staggering 88 per cent were unvaccinated.

He said 86 per cent of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital since that time were unvaccinated and 98 per cent admitted to intensive care were also unvaccinated.

Victoria reported seven deaths in people with Covid on Wednesday, among people aged in their 50s to 90s from the Hume and Whittlesea areas.

On Tuesday, police and army personnel were out checking licenses near Darian Road under Operation Guardian.

The Torquay checkpoint included six soldiers, seven protective service officers as well as police preventing Melburnians from entering parts of regional Victoria.

Sergeant Stephen Cook said two metro Melbourne residents were stopped during the operation with both able to provide a valid permit.

“It has been very good. I have done a lot of operations and it has been very compliant, you get the occasional issue, but the vast majority of people are doing the right thing,” Sgt Cook said.

Operation Guardian will be popping up all over the state while under chief health officer directions.

Meanwhile, further easings of restrictions that came into effect from 11.59pm Tuesday mean in regional Victorian areas not in lockdown, outdoor settings for restaurants and cafes will have their outdoor venue cap increase from 20 to 30 people.

Masks can also be removed in hair and beauty salons so facials and beard trimmings can recommence.

Originally published as New Surf Coast and Geelong Covid cases; workers at Colac’s Australian Lamb Company tested