By Luke Voogt
A worker has tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time in nearly a fortnight at an abattoir at the centre of the region’s worst outbreak.
Australian Lamb Company confirmed in a statement that a Geelong resident working at its Colac abattoir had tested positive for COVID-19
Colac Area Health began testing more than 100 close contacts of the employee and the wider work force on Tuesday, its chief executive Fiona Brew she said.
“Investigations are underway as to the source of the infection.
“Fortunately, the staff member was tested as soon as they had symptoms and Australian Lamb Company has been vigilant in following COVID protocols.”
“Australian Lamb Company has completed an immediate deep clean.”
Barwon Health’s contact tracing team were assisting with testing, Ms Brew said.
On July 10 a contractor employed at the abattoir tested positive for COVID-19 and days later several Colac schools had closed due to multiple confirmed cases.
The outbreak had grown to 83 confirmed cases by August 14, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
On Tuesday the department had confirmed 84 cases of COVID-19 linked to the abattoir.
The outbreak is the largest in the Barwon South West region to date.
But Colac Otway Shire’s active cases continued to fall yesterday despite the new case.
The shire had eight active cases as of midnight on Monday, down three on the previous day.
Greater Geelong’s active cases have also continued to fall, with 74 on Monday, down on 88 the previous day.
Surf Coast Shire’s active cases remained on five while Golden Plains Shire now has no confirmed active cases of COVID-19.
Victoria recorded 148 new COVID-19 cases with 14 reclassified, largely due to duplication, increasing the total by 134 to 18,464.
Active cases across Victoria decreased by 80, from 3731 to 3651, with 3279 in Melbourne and 215 in regional Victoria.
Another eight Victorians, including seven aged-care residents, have died from COVID-19 bringing the state’s death toll to 385.
The deaths included two men aged in their 70s, four women and a man aged in their 80s and a woman aged in her 90s.
Of the new cases, 43 are linked to outbreaks or complex cases, and 105 are under investigation.
Of total cases, 4061 indicate unknown transmission.
Currently 617 Victorians are in hospital after contracting COVID-19 with 35 in intensive care, while 14,288 people have recovered.
More than 2,119,199 tests have been processed to date.
