By Luke Voogt
A Newcomb man became the second Geelong local to die from COVID-19 as the city recorded nine new cases yesterday.
The 51-year-old man had worked for 15 years at Golden Farms Poultry processing plant, according to the site’s owner Turosi.
The Department of Health and Human Services has linked 44 COVID-19 cases to an outbreak at the site so far.
Turosi chief executive officer Phil Hand confirmed the employee’s death in a statement on Monday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our valued long-term employees,” he said.
“We were informed he had tested positive for COVID-19 and of his passing by Barwon Health, late yesterday.
“Turosi will work with his family to provide what support it can through this very difficult time.
“Our sincere sympathy goes out to his family and friends. Out of respect for them, we will not comment further at this time.”
Greater Geelong cases increased by nine yesterday and 13 on Saturday, bringing the city’s total since the pandemic began to 271 as of midnight yesterday.
Geelong currently has 168 active COVID-19 cases, with the figures indicating that three people recovered on Saturday plus another five yesterday.
Reports have emerged of three new positive tests at Opal South Valley aged care in Highton taking that outbreak to 36.
Colac Otway Shire’s active cases decreased from 89 to 87 yesterday while Golden Plains cases also decreased by two from 13 to 11.
The department has so far linked 83 cases to an outbreak at Colac’s Australian Lamb Company abattoir.
Surf Coast Shire’s active cases remained level on six.
Victoria recorded 322 new COVID-19 cases yesterday with 24 reclassified, largely due to duplication, increasing the total by 298 to 14,957.
Another 19 Victorians have died from COVID-19, with 10 related to aged care facilities, bringing the state’s death toll to 228.
They include a man in his 50s, a woman in her 60s, two men in their 70s, six women in their 80s, a man in his 80s, seven women in their 90s and a man in his 90s.
Of the new cases 32 are linked to outbreaks or complex cases, and 290 are under investigation.
Victoria has 7869 active cases and 2863 cases from unknown transmission, with 1765 active cases relating to outbreaks across aged care facilities.
Currently 640 Victorians are in hospital after contracting COVID-19 with 48 in intensive care, while 6642 people have recovered.
Of the total cases, 13,721 are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 909 are from regional Victoria.
More than 1,820,598 tests have been processed to date.
