A trail of missteps emerges around Cedar Meats coronavirus outbreak
Two transporters who were at Cedar Meats the week before it shut say they were not notified about coronavirus, as a trail of missteps and misinformation emerges surrounding the outbreak.
A TRAIL of missteps and misinformation has emerged surrounding the coronavirus outbreak at Melbourne meatworks Cedar Meats.
At least 88 people associated with the abattoir have now tested positive for the virus, as more questions are raised over the Victorian Government and Department of Health’s handling of the situation.
Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria president John Beer told The Weekly Times he was contacted by two owner-drivers who had entered Cedar Meats in the week before it shut down who said they not been notified about the virus by the Department of Health.
Mr Beer said the industry should not have been left to chase their own information, especially when the outbreak was announced and the Government refused to identify the abattoir.
“I at least thought we were entitled to know that they had it (coronavirus),” he said.
“What the secret is I don’t understand, but I just think they (the drivers) are entitled to be told.
“The department should have come out of the woodwork and told us a lot sooner that the virus was there.”
When questioned by The Weekly Times whether all people that were at Cedar Meats after the first worker tested positive, including those who weren’t employees, were notified, the Department of Health said: “Initial contact tracing at the company was focused on getting close contacts quarantined and tested, as the first few cases worked in the same area of the facility, followed by further contact tracing to identify any other visitors or contractors that may have been on site and were at risk of infection.”
Last week, it was revealed that the first case linked to the Cedar Meats worksite in Brooklyn was diagnosed on Friday, April 24, and a second worker tested positive just over 24 hours later when he presented to Sunshine Hospital for a hand injury from a workplace incident. WorkSafe Victoria told The Weekly Times inquiries into the incident were still underway.
The first Cedar Meats employee to test positive for coronavirus, but not directly linked with the worksite, was diagnosed on April 2.
The employee said they had not been at the worksite for four weeks and the Department of Health decided the abattoir was not considered an exposure site, and did not inform Cedar Meats.
It has also been revealed the Department of Health contacted Cedar Meats’ labour-hire company, Labour Solutions Australia, when it began contact tracing on April 24.
The Government said the company contacted Cedar Meats the same day. However, last week, Cedar Meats general manager Tony Kairouz said Cedar Meats was not aware of its workers testing positive for the virus until April 27.
Cedar Meats did not answer questions from The Weekly Times about this.
An administrative error at a laboratory has also seen a worker not receive his test results for at least 10 days after he was tested.
The Victorian Opposition has called for an independent inquiry into how the Victorian Government handled the outbreak.
However, despite criticism from the Opposition and agriculture industry, Prime Minister Scott Morrison commended Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday.
“I commend (Victorian) Premier (Daniel) Andrews on the way that he has sought to address this issue,” Mr Morrison said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said he was confident the outbreak at Cedar Meats was under control.
Cedar Meats buyers were back at Bendigo on Monday buying sheep and the abattoir is expected to be operating again by next Monday.
MORE
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.