Chemist Warehouse distribution centre is closed after worker tests positive for COVID-19 in Melbourne
- A Melbourne Chemist Warehouse employee tested positive for coronavirus
- Facility made aware of positive case on Thursday and underwent a deep clean
- The employee and five colleagues have since gone into isolation to slow spread
- Fears the employee who tested positive was in contact with 100s of others
A Melbourne Chemist Warehouse distribution centre has shut down after a worker tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee went to work at the Chemist Warehouse distribution centre in Somerton in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
The facility was made aware of the positive coronavirus case on Thursday night and immediately shut down.
The employee went to work at the Chemist Warehouse distribution centre in Somerton in Melbourne on Tuesday night
Share this article
The confirmed case and five colleagues have since gone into isolation but there are fears up to 100 staff members came in contact with the infected person.
According to the United Workers Union, the distribution centre underwent a deep clean and was open again on Friday.
However, up to 80 per cent of workers refused to work after hearing about the positive COVID-19 case.
Workers were required to use their leave to have the day off as the union calls for paid pandemic leave for workers.
The Director of CW Retail, Director of CW Retail, encouraged employees to wear face masks as the state grapples with an increase in coronavirus cases.
He also said that all employees are temperature checked upon arrival.
Victoria recorded a staggering 288 positive coronavirus cases on Friday - the highest total since the beginning of the pandemic.
Only 26 of those were linked to known outbreaks with the 262 under investigation.
There are currently 1,172 active cases in the state.
Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, in the state's north, have since gone back into stage 3 lockdown and as the state battles through a second wave.
Residents are only allowed to leave their homes for four reasons which include: exercise, work, to buy essential items and for medical attention.
People in lockdown are also encouraged to wear face masks if the safe 1.5metre distance cannot be maintained.
'Through an abundance of caution, through the fact it is relatively easy, we should request of all Victorians when they are out of their home, and this relates principally to metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire ... it is our request of you (to wear a mask),' Premier Daniel Andrews said.
'It's not compulsory, we are simply asking that if you can wear a mask where you can't distance, that is exactly what we would like you to do.
'That's a relatively small contribution but one that could make a really big difference.'
The state government has already ordered two million reusable masks and one million single use masks for the communities to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
A worker at a Melbourne Chemist Warehouse distribution centre tested positive for coronavirus
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
