Melbourne childcare centre closed after positive coronavirus test

A daycare centre in Melbourne’s north has closed after a staff member tested positive to coronavirus.

Inspira Kids Early Learning centre wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night a staff member at its Gladstone Park facility had tested positive.

“Following advice from DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services), [the] centre will be closed ‪from June 17th till June 26th.‬ And will be open ‪from June 29th‬,” it wrote on Facebook.

“This closure will allow time for the centre and DHHS to undertake a full risk assessment.

“The closure will also allow appropriate cleaning of the centre to occur on the recommendation of DHHS.”

A DHHS spokesperson confirmed the positive test to Yahoo News Australia.

“The staff member attended the centre for two days last week while infectious,” the spokesperson said.

“The Department is working with the facility to ensure that all public health actions are taken. Families have been notified.”

The department said close contacts of the staff member would be quarantined for two weeks and an investigation was ongoing.

Inspira said “staff and children are required to remain at home while contact tracing occurs”.

“We understand that this news will be concerning for many of you. I want to assure you we are strictly following the public health advice of DHHS to ensure the safety of all staff and children,” the statement from the childcare centre continued.

News of the centre’s closure follows three Melbourne primary schools shutting down this week after a number of students tested positive for the virus.

Strathmore Primary School, in Melbourne’s inner north, was closed on Tuesday as it undergoes a deep clean while St Dominic’s and Pakenham Springs Primary School were also shut.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.