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COVID-19 cases at Victorian abattoir rise to 34
Victoria has recorded 19 new COVID-19 cases connected to a cluster at a meat processing facility overnight.
The new infections account for all but three of the state’s 22 new coronavirus cases, which now total 1406.
The company at the centre of the cluster is Cedar Meats in Brooklyn.
The plant, which is now linked to a total of 34 cases, has been shut down for deep cleaning and more than 300 workers are undergoing testing.
Cedar Meats General Manager Tony Kairouz said the safety of the company’s workers and customers was its highest priority.
“A number of our employees have tested positive to the coronavirus in one of our facilities in West Melbourne,” Mr Kairouz said.
“All the workers are self-quarantining and we are working closely with Victorian health authorities.”
All of the meat processed at the facility was safe to eat, Mr Kairouz said.
“All meat processed at our facilities is processed in accordance with Australian standards for food safety,” he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the outbreak at the meat processing facility showed that while the results were good, the situation was still fragile.
“This is fragile and none of us can assume just because we are frustrated that this is over. It is far from over and we have to stay the course,” he said.
Of the other new virus cases identified in Victoria, two related to returning travellers in hotel quarantine, while a third was still being investigated, Mr Andrews said.
There were more than 13,000 Victorians tested for the virus yesterday, in what was the state’s biggest single day of testing.
Mr Andrews said the number was an “amazing result” and more than any had other state had achieved in one day.
“I can’t emphasise enough how pleased and proud and grateful I am of Victorians,” Mr Andrews said.
Victoria’s Health minister Jenny Mikakos said the state would continue on with a “testing blitz” until Sunday and called on anyone with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested.
There were 90 sites across the state where people could get tested, including 22 shopping centres offering drive through tests, Ms Mikakos said.
Mr Andrews dismissed questions about yesterday’s controversy where Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan criticised the premier for continuing to keep school students at home.
Mr Tehan later retracted the comments, saying they came out of “frustration”.
Mr Andrews said the comments were “ancient history” and far as he was concerned.
Source: 9News
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