19 new coronavirus cases from Melbourne abattoir virus outbreak

Thirty-four people associated with a Melbourne abattoir have now tested positive for coronavirus. It comes as the chief health officer defends the timing of the facility’s closure.

Affected abattoir: Cedar Meats Australia in Brooklyn, Melbourne.

THIRTY-four people associated with a Melbourne meat processing facility have now tested positive for coronavirus.

The abattoir at the centre of the outbreak was identified yesterday as Cedar Meats.

The Brooklyn facility was shut on Friday for at least 14 days for thorough cleaning and more than 300 staff are being tested.

It was announced on Saturday the facility, which the Department of Health refused to identify, closed on Friday after eight employees tested positive to the virus.

It was revealed yesterday a further six workers tested positive to coronavirus on Saturday, and one more case was added to the Friday result, taking the total number of cases to 15.

A further 19 people have now tested positive, taking the total number of cases to 34.

The department would not answer questions from The Weekly Times about when the first worker tested positive, however it has been reported the first case may have been diagnosed as early as April 3.

Premier Daniel Andrews defended the decision to close the business on Friday, May 1, saying the department’s process had been “appropriate at all stages”.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the abattoir first moved to minimal staffing and then “moved to a shutdown at the earliest possible time”.

“But there were some logistic constraints about having everyone cease work immediately because they had to go through process(es) to be able to get there,” Prof Sutton said.

“There were animal welfare issues with the business so you need minimum staffing on site to ensure animal welfare is looked after.”

Prof Sutton also defended the decision to not name the business, saying it was “not for us to declare”.

“If we are following up everyone and have the names and contact details of everyone in the site and we’re not concerned about the general community being exposed then there is no specific public health reason to name those places,” he said.

“That’s the role for that specific meatworks to say ‘it’s us’.

“If the meatworks wants to name itself, to be clear it doesn’t involve other places, then they’re free to do so.

“My team is in the role of just doing the public health follow up of these places. Naming it is not part of what’s required of us to do our work.”

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said yesterday the decision to not name the facility was “not a decision that’s been made about anyone’s reputation”.

In statement to 3AW today, Cedar Meats general manager Tony Kairouz said “the welfare and safety of our staff, visitors, suppliers and customers is our highest priority.

“All workers are self-quarantining and we are working closely with the Victorian health authorities.

“All meat processed at our facilities is processed in accordance with Australian Standards for food safety and our customers can be confident that the meat processed at our facilities is safe to eat.”

The closure of Cedar Meats comes a month after The Weekly Times published farmers and food processors demands they be given priority testing for coronavirus in the event of an outbreak on their farm or factory, to avoid having to shut down.

NEW: WORKER FIRST TESTED POSITIVE A WEEK AGO