Don KR Castlemaine coronavirus cluster increases to 10 people

DON KR Castlemaine has confirmed seven of its workers have tested positive COVID-19.

A company spokesperson said almost all of the 1300 workers at the Castlemaine production facility have been tested.

Seven employees tested positive to coronavirus, while 600 workers have received a negative result.

It comes as Castlemaine Health confirmed 10 people connected to Don KR Castlemaine have received positive COVID-19 test results.

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9.50am

An email sent to all Bendigo Health staff by chief executive Peter Faulkner reveals four Don KR Castlemaine staff and four close contacts of workers have returned positive COVID-19 tests.

Castlemaine Health on Tuesday confirmed the production facility's coronavirus cluster had increased to 10 people.

In his correspondence, Mr Faulkner said: "There is a very real chance that the virus has been transmitted from one of these positive cases to other people and that community transmission has occurred here in Bendigo."

Mr Faulkner said in the interviews with positive cases who have emerged in the last couple of days, "it is clear these people are going about their business prior to being tested and moving around Bendigo, going shopping, getting takeaway and potentially inadvertently exposing people to the risk of infection."

Mr Faulkner said he expects the number of positive COVID-19 case in Bendigo to rise.

In three days, more than 1400 tests have been undertaken at Bendigo Health's two COVID-19 clinics, with 900 of those in the drive through clinic.

Mr Faulkner said Bendigo Health's infection prevention team are contact tracing people who receive a positive test.

"They ask a number of questions designed to determine their current health status, identify any close contacts, record their recent movements and ensure they are accessing appropriate supports that are available," Mr Faulkner said.

9am

ANOTHER four people connected to Don KR Castlemaine have tested positive to COVID-19.

Castlemaine Health on Tuesday confirmed the production facility's coronavirus cluster had increased to 10 people.

The site's first COVID-19 case was confirmed on Thursday. It is unclear whether the new COVID-19 cases are all Don KR workers.

A Don KR spokesperson on Monday said almost all of the 1300 employees at the Castlemaine site had been tested for COVID-19.

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COVID-19 tests were conducted at the weekend onsite at Don KR in Castlemaine, at Bendigo Health, the Maryborough District Health Service, and elsewhere for staff who work outside these areas.

A Castlemaine Health spokesperson said an Incident Control Centre had been established in Castlemaine.

The hospital is working with the Mount Alexander Shire Council, Castlemaine District Community Health, and various government agencies.

A Castlemaine Health spokesperson said all Don KR staff have been told to isolate until they have their results, which was expected to take two to three days.

Close contacts have also been contacted, tested, and told to remain in isolation. Further tracing contact was still taking place.

All confirmed cases would be retested before they are able to exit isolation.

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