Shepparton coronavirus: Lemon Tree Cafe one of eight COVID-19 hot spots
One of the COVID-contaminated Shepparton businesses has been forced to turn away customers this morning who had no idea there has been a coronavirus outbreak in the area. Meanwhile, it’s been revealed the same Melburnian who spread the virus to Kilmore sparked the Shepparton cluster.
Goulburn Valley
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One of the COVID contaminated businesses has been forced to turn away customers this morning who have no idea there has been a coronavirus outbreak in Shepparton.
Three people have contracted coronavirus – the first time in several weeks the region has recorded new cases.
Lemon Tree Cafe is one of the eight Shepparton COVID-19 hot spots.
Owner Leanne Stride said they would be closed today for deep cleaning and did not know for how long.
“We’re hoping to be open tomorrow – we want to make sure everything’s done properly,” she said.
“We’re just doing the right thing by Shepparton, and doing what’s necessary to be done.
Shepparton resident Marlene Brassil normally goes to Lemontree cafe and was devastated to see them shut.
“Lemontree is my favourite, so you feel sorry for them,” she said.
Denise McLarty said she would be extra cautious in the next few days.
“We felt so confident, and thought we were safe as long as we were wearing masks and sanitising our hands,” she said.
“But now we don’t want to sit in cafes.”
Despite being listed as a hot spot, North Shepparton’s 24-hour McDonalds was still open at 9am this morning.
The DHHS put up an alert for anyone who had been to the restaurant on Saturday October 3.
The Goulburn Valley News understands the restaurant is working with DHHS to figure out next steps – but will remain open in the meantime.
Bombshell Hair Salon will be closed for 10 days after a positive case attended on October 7 at 9:30am for 40 minutes.
In a Facebook page post, the salon confirmed the positive case was a local customer.
“We will also be in contact with clients to ensure they are aware and have the necessary advice,” the post said.
“Bombshell checks and refuses service to Melbourne residents.
“We are obviously extremely distressed and concerned by this advice due the potential risk to our staff and clients.”
Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that the COVID-positive Melburnian who spread the virus to Kilmore has also spread it to Shepparton.
Commander for testing at the DHHS Jeroen Weimar said the three new Shepparton coronavirus cases were linked to the Chadstone and Kilmore clusters.
The index case, from Melbourne, visited Shepparton on September 30 after contracting the virus when he was exposed to it at The Butcher Club in Chadstone shopping centre.
The Melburnian man had not revealed to contact tracing teams that he had visited Shepparton until he was probed about it on Tuesday.
It is unclear if the man deliberately concealed the information or simply forgot.
“What appears to have happened is this individual who had a permit also stopped off in Shepparton, that information wasn’t forthcoming until last night,” Mr Weimar told Neil Mitchell on 3AW Radio.
“When we did the original conversation around the Kilmore cluster, the information around Shepparton wasn’t forthcoming. We were unable to start the early tracing in Shepparton.
“We would have rather been in that situation 10 days ago.”
The three new cases in Shepparton were discovered on Tuesday afternoon after a woman came forward to be tested because she was symptomatic over the weekend.
Twelve people in her workplace were tested overnight, with two returning positive tests.
Mr Weimar described the Shepparton outbreak as a “rapidly moving” situation.
The DHHS website said a person with COVID-19 was a worker at Central Tyre Service on Welsford St.
The three people are all self-isolating at home.
Residents of Shepparton are advised to get tested for coronavirus.
The current list of high risk locations in Shepparton are:
— Central Tyre Service, Welsford Street Shepparton from Wednesday 30 of September to Tuesday 13 October;
— Bunnings Warehouse, Midland Highway Shepparton Friday 2nd of October;
—McDonalds Shepparton North, 175 Midland Highway Shepparton Saturday 3 October;
—Mooroopna Golf Club Members Bar, Sunday 4 October and Pro Shop and Members Bar Sunday 11 October;
—Shepparton Market Place Medical Centre, Midland Highway Shepparton Thursday 8 October;
— Lemon Tree Café, Fryers Street Shepparton;
— Thai Orchid Restaurant, Nixon Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October from 7:00pm to 8:30pm;
— Bombshell Hairdressing, Fryers Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October from 9:30am to 10:30am.
From 9am residents can be tested at GV Health’s Acute Respiratory Clinic, with further testing sites to be established on Wednesday. A pop up site will be established at the showgrounds from 12.30pm.
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