By Laura Michell
Twelve McDonald’s stores across Melbourne’s northwest have been closed after a delivery driver, who was in contact with a confirmed coronavirus case from a Craigieburn McDonald’s, tested positive for the virus.
McDonald’s closed its stores at Campbellfield, Melton East, Laverton North, Yallambie, Taylors Lakes, Sunbury, Hoppers Crossing, Riverdale Village, Sandown, Calder Highway northbound and southbound, and BP Rockbank Service Centre outbound for deep cleaning on Sunday night.
The Craigieburn Road McDonald’s was closed for deep cleaning last Friday.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the truck driver was employed by an external company and made deliveries to the 12 restaurants, interacting with a small number of McDonald’s employees at each store, while asymptomatic.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified the driver as a workplace close contact of the Craigieburn McDonald’s employee who tested positive for the virus last Friday.
“Potential close contacts and employees who have worked specific shifts during and after the McDonald’s shuts stores truck driver’s delivery have been instructed not to return to work for 14 days and advised to be tested,” the McDonald’s spokesperson said.
“We will re-open each of the restaurants following the completion of the deep clean and pending the availability of replacement crew.” DHHS confirmed the Craigieburn staff member was an extended relative of a confirmed COVID-19 case from Fawkner McDonald’s.
The staff member had not worked at the Fawkner store and last worked at the Craigieburn store on May 12.
The McDonald’s spokesperson said the employee was self-isolating at home with “little to no symptoms”.
DHHS data shows Hume has one of the highest active coronavirus counts in the state, with 13 active cases as of Sunday. The municipality has recorded a total of 53 positive COVID-19 cases.
Only Melbourne (17) has a higher number of active cases.
There were 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Whittlesea as of Sunday, of which three were active.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said the continued increase in cases illustrated that the battle against COVID-19 was far from over.
