Meatworks reopen after virus closures
MEATWORKS at the epicentre of two of the region’s worst coronavirus outbreaks are reopening after being forced to close due to COVID-19.
It comes after the state government announced new rules to prevent coronavirus spreading through the meat industry.
The Department of Health and Human Services had on Friday linked 36 cases to an outbreak at Golden Farms chicken processing plant in Breakwater, and 83 cases to the outbreak at the Australian Lamb Company in Colac.
The first case at Golden Farms was diagnosed on July 23, and the site stopped operating for two weeks from last Monday.
ALC’s Colac facility temporarily closed after it was notified a contractor had tested positive on July 17.
Premier Daniel Andrews this week announced that in the meat industry — and based on the minimum required to operate safely on-site — the workforce would be scaled back to two-thirds.
“Workers in abattoirs will be kitted out in full PPE — gowns, masks and shields — more akin to what a nurse would wear,” Mr Andrews said.
“They’ll also be subject to routine testing.”
ALC confirmed it recommenced its Colac operations with a reduced workforce on Friday, in line with new guidelines from the DHHS.
“These guidelines include introducing health and safety measures to protect our workforce from the virus, which are in addition to the stringent measures we implemented at the beginning of the year to deal with COVID-19,” ALC said.
“We have been working closely with Colac Area Health, DHHS, Department of Agriculture and Regional Development Victoria to restart the facility, and we thank them for their commitment and guidance in this regard. We are also working with our employees and contractors impacted by the enforced workforce changes.
“We would like to thank the local community for their ongoing care and support as we move forward together.”
Phil Hand, CEO of Turosi, which owns the Golden Farms plant, said Turosi continued to work closely with Barwon Health and DHHS in preparing for the Geelong plant to reopen next week.