Covid-19 Manningham: The latest exposure sites in your area

Commuters have been told to brace for major disruptions with about 100 drivers forced off the job after a Covid-19 outbreak hit Doncaster’s bus depot.

About 100 bus drivers working in Doncaster and North Fitzroy have been forced into isolation after a Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: David Crosling

A driver shortage has hit Doncaster’s bus depot following a Covid-19 outbreak, with commuters told to brace for service disruptions and cancellations on local routes.

Bus provider Transdev reported two positive cases of the virus among staff who were based at its North Fitzroy depot on Monday morning.

A Transdev spokesman said one of the Covid-positive drivers also had a meal break at its Doncaster depot.

The two cases have forced about 100 drivers off the job and into isolation due to the exposure.

Transdev has also deep cleaned both depots and a collection of buses.

The bus provider has advised up to 13 routes will have reduced services on Monday, including some services travelling through Manningham.

They include Route 200 – City to Bulleen, which will operate every 30 minutes, and Route 303 – from Oban Rd and Warrandyte Rd in Ringwood North into the city, which has had six services cancelled.

A Transdev spokesman said it was working with health authorities to determine whether services would be impacted further into the week.

Commuters have been asked to check the Transdev website for the full list of impacted routes and the Public Transport Victoria website and app for updates.

The outbreak is the latest to impact Manningham after a Templestowe pizza shop and a local supermarket became the area’s latest Covid-19 exposure sites on Friday.

The DHHS listed the Templestowe Pizzeria on Newmans Rd as a Tier 2 exposure site on Friday afternoon.

A person with a positive case of the virus, likely to be a worker, was at the store on Saturday, September 26 from 5pm-10.45pm.

The timeslot means customers who visited the store on Saturday night to pick up some snacks before the AFL Grand Final could have been exposed.

Anyone who visited the shop at the time is asked to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Elsewhere in Templestowe, Woolworths at Macedon Plaza on Manningham Rd was listed by the DHHS as a Tier 2 exposure site on Thursday night.

A person with a positive case of the virus, likely to be a worker, was at the supermarket from 7pm-11.59pm on Thursday, September 23.

Anyone else who was in store during those hours is asked to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

A handful of close contacts will also be contacted directly by the DHHS to quarantine for 14 days.

The listing of the supermarket comes after Tunstall Square’s Thrive Bulk Wholefoods store in Doncaster East was confirmed as a Tier 1 exposure site on Wednesday night.

The store also confirmed the news through its Facebook page, stating that a female staff member had tested positive.

The staff member worked at the store from 1.30pm to 5pm on Saturday, September 26, however the DHHS has listed the exposure period up until 6pm.

“It’s our turn now, we are working with DHHS and doing whatever is needed,” the store wrote.

“We will update with more information as soon as we get it. Hugs, Thrive tribe.”

Anyone who visited the store during the exposure period is asked to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days.

It’s the latest incident to hit Tunstall Square after an alleged child theft attempt on the same day, September 26, with police still searching for the attacker.

A Tier 2 site has also been listed in Manningham at Donvale’s Nido Early School on Springvale Rd.

A person with a positive case of the virus visited the kindergarten on September 21 between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

Anyone who was at the kindergarten during those hours is asked to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.