McDonald's closes 12 restaurants over coronavirus fears
McDonald's has closed 12 outlets across Victoria and staff have been told to get tested after a delivery driver was confirmed to have coronavirus.
The dozen outlets will be shut and deep-cleaned after being visited by the driver, who was asymptomatic and unaware he had COVID-19 at the time.
"We have made the decision to close and conduct a deep clean of 12 restaurants in Victoria, following confirmation a truck driver for an external service provider has tested positive for COVID-19," a McDonald's Australia spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.
"Potential close contacts and employees who have worked specific shifts during and after the truck driver's delivery have been instructed not to return to work for 14 days and advised to be tested."
The Department of Health confirmed the driver was an extended family member of a worker at Fawkner McDonald's, where a cluster of 10 cases emerged on May 9.
That site reopened on Wednesday after it had been closed for five days for deep cleaning.
And while there have been no further infections linked to the driver so far, McDonald’s Australia CEO Andrew Gregory told Channel Nine’s Today show it is possible further cases will be linked to the driver’s.
“We have identified all those restaurants and, look, the chances of further infections - it is possible, but the actions we are taking are about making sure we minimise further infections,’ he said.
The spokesperson said that out of “an abundance of caution”, McDonald’s Australia has taken “significant action in the best interests of the health and safety of our employees and our customers.”
“We will open each of the restaurants following completion of the deep clean and pending the availability of replacement crew.”
List of closed stores
1. Melton East
2. Laverton North
3. Yallambie
4. Taylors Lakes
5. Campbellfield
6. Sunbury
7. Hoppers Crossing
8. Riverdale Village
9. Sandown
10. Calder Highway Northbound/Outbound
11. Calder Highway Southbound/Inbound
12. BP Rockbank Service Centre Outbound
Virus-hit abattoir slowly reopens
Meanwhile, an abattoir at the centre of a major coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne's west will begin reopening its premises.
Authorities insist it will be some time before Cedar Meats resumes full operations after 100 coronavirus cases were linked to the meatworks.
The company will restart its cold storage facility on Monday.
Between 15 to 20 staff cleared by the health department will return to work and have staggered breaks after the factory was deep cleaned.
"Cedar Meats is not recommencing production on May 18. The cold storage facility requires a minimum of staff," a spokeswoman said.
"The safety and wellbeing of staff is Cedar Meats number one priority."
The restart has been planned with the advice and support of the public health team at the health department, a company statement says.
Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen said only staff who had tested negative to the coronavirus would be able to return.
“They are by no means opening full operations," she said on Sunday.
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"So the only employees who are returning to the facility are those who have been confirmed as cases, been confirmed as clearing COVID-19 and had negative tests and so are, therefore, both no longer infectious and not currently vulnerable.
"So they're still a long, long way to go until that facility is fully open and all employees can go back."
Domino’s Pizza worker tests positive
The state notched up another seven COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 1561.
Two of the fresh cases were linked to the outbreak at Cedar Meats in Melbourne, bringing the total cases at the Brooklyn facility to 100.
Domino's Pizza Enterprises confirmed late on Sunday it was notified on Friday a worker at its Fairfield store had tested positive to COVID-19.
The store was immediately shut and will remain closed for at least 14 days while a deep clean is undertaken, a company statement said.
The Fairfield store staff and their families were advised to self-isolate and get tested.
Victorians have been given the green light to eat and drink inside pubs, restaurants and cafes from June 1, starting with up to 20 people.
– with AAP
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