New coronavirus case at recently reopened Colac meatworks
Colac Area Health was undertaking testing of more than 100 close contacts on Tuesday after a staff member from Australian Lamb Company tested positive for coronavirus. The news comes as active cases continue to drop in the region.
Geelong
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A STAFF member from Australian Lamb Company in Colac, which only recently reopened following a coronavirus outbreak, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The worker, who is from Geelong, tested positive on Monday and last worked at the company on Friday.
“We have been advised by health authorities that this new case is not linked to previous cases at ALC,” the company said in a statement.
An outbreak identified at the facility last month has been linked to more than 80 cases.
Colac Area Health chief executive Fiona Brew said the health service was responding to the case with the support of the contact tracing team at Barwon Health.
Ms Brew said ALC had completed an immediate deep clean and Colac Area Health was undertaking testing of more than 100 close contacts on Tuesday, as well as wider testing across the workforce.
“Investigations are underway as to the source of the infection,” Ms Brew said.
“Fortunately, the staff member was tested as soon as they had symptoms and ALC has been vigilant in following COVID protocols.”
ALC confirmed in line with directions from DHHS, all close contact employees would be tested on Tuesday and will be in quarantine for the next 14 days.
“Consequently, our production shift (PM) is currently closed, but all other shifts continue to operate,” ALC said.
ALC’s Colac facility temporarily closed after it was notified a contractor had tested positive on July 17.
It recommenced Colac operations with a reduced workforce on August 7.
ALC said as well as meeting all of its return-to-work requirements, as set by the DHHS, it was implementing additional operational health and safety measures, including:
REDUCTION in processing and employee numbers;
COMPREHENSIVE daily COVID-19 surveillance testing; and,
MANDATORY use of masks and other personal protective equipment including face shields.
Meanwhile, the DHHS did not report any new coronavirus cases across the G21 region on Tuesday, as active infections continued to drop.
Active cases fell by 14 from Monday to 74 on Tuesday for Greater Geelong.
In Colac Otway active cases dropped by three to eight.
The Surf Coast was stable with five active cases, while Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliffe both remained at zero.
There were seven inpatients with coronavirus, including one in intensive care, at Geelong hospital on Tuesday.
Victoria reported 148 new coronavirus cases and eight additional deaths.
Seven of the new deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities.
The new deaths brought the state’s coronavirus death toll to 438.
Originally published as New coronavirus case at recently reopened Colac meatworks