COVID-19 cluster breaks out at a meat processing warehouse in Victoria

COVID-19 cluster breaks out at a meat processing plant as eight workers test positive for the deadly disease

• Victoria health officials confirmed a coronavirus outbreak at a meat facility 
• Eight people at the processing plant have tested positive for COVID-19 so far
• The facility, which was not named, has been closed for cleaning and contact 
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Karen Ruiz For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:54 BST, 2 May 2020 | Updated: 04:03 BST, 2 May 2020

Authorities are investigating a new coronavirus cluster at a meat processing plant in Victoria where eight people have tested positive.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed on Saturday there has been an outbreak at an unnamed facility which has been closed for cleaning and contact tracing.

Three staff members at the plant are among the seven new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, bringing the state total to 1,371.

Ms Mikakos said one of the new cases is a returned traveller who is now in hotel quarantine while the others are in self isolation at home. 

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed on Saturday there is an outbreak at an unnamed meat processing facility which has been closed for cleaning and contact tracing

The meat processing plant was not named but Ms Mikakos said there were no concerns about food safety or risk to the broader community (stock image) 

She declined to name the business or provide further details about its location, but stressed there were no concerns about food safety or risk to the broader community.

‘I have no hesitation in naming a facility if I think that that is in the public interests,’ Ms Mikakos told reporters, when pressed to provide further details about the business.

It comes after a coronavirus cluster was identified at the Hawthorn Grange aged care home in Melbourne’s east, with four residents and one staff member infected.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 6,778

New South Wales: 3,030

Victoria: 1,371

Queensland: 1,034

Western Australia: 551

South Australia: 438

Tasmania: 221

Australian Capital Territory: 106

Northern Territory: 27

TOTAL CASES:  6,778

RECOVERED: 5,775

DEAD: 93

One of Victoria’s seven new coronavirus cases involves a returned traveller in quarantine at a hotel.

‘The fact that we’ve had seven new cases overnight does demonstrate that the situation is still incredibly fragile,’ Ms Mikakos said.

All but 71 patients who have contracted the virus in Victoria are recovered. 

Of the total number of cases, 141 indicate community transmission. This means someone has been infected without going overseas or coming into contact with another confirmed case.

Twelve people remain in hospital with the virus, including seven in intensive care, and more than 129,000 Victorians have been tested.

The state’s death toll from the virus remains at 18.

Restrictions on social gatherings and movement are beginning to ease across some states.

But Victoria is not expected to relax its measures to suppress the spread of coronavirus before a state of emergency expires on May 11.

It comes as police doled out 30 fines in the past 24 hours, including to seven people gathered for a birthday party and others busted for drug offences.

Earlier this week a coronavirus cluster was identified at the Hawthorn Grange aged care home in Melbourne’s east, with four residents and one staff member infected

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