By Alesha Capone
McDonalds has announced that it will close and deep clean 12 restaurants, including sites in Hoppers Crossing and Laverton North, after a truck driver from an external service provider tested positive for coronavirus.
The news comes after 11 coronavirus cases have been linked to a virus cluster at a McDonald’s in Fawkner and another case of the virus to a Craigieburn Maccas (which diagnosed in a worker who is an extended relative of one of the Fawkner cases).
McDonald’s Australia has released a statement saying:“McDonald’s Australia confirms no other employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at this time.
“However, out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to close and conduct a deep clean of 12 restaurants in Victoria, following confirmation a truck driver for an external service provider has tested positive for COVID-19.
“The truck driver made deliveries to 12 restaurants and interacted with a small number of restaurant employees on each occasion while asymptomatic and unaware they had contracted COVID-19.
“Potential close contacts and employees who have worked specific shifts during and after the truck drivers’ delivery have been instructed not to return to work for 14 days and advised to be tested.
“The Department of Health has identified the truck driver as a workplace close contact of the previously announced Craigieburn COVID-19 case.
“McDonald’s Australia has taken this significant action in the best interests of the health and safety of our employees and our customers.
“We will open each of the restaurants following completion of the deep clean and pending the availability of replacement crew.”
The full list of restaurants to close and conduct a deep clean are:
1. Melton East
2. Laverton North
3. Yallambie
4. Taylors Lakes
5. Campbellfield
6. Sunbury
7. Hoppers Crossing
8. Riverdale Village
9. Sandown
10. Calder Highway Northbound/Outbound
11. Calder Highway Southbound/Inbound
12. BP Rockbank Service Centre Outbound
The Age newspaper reported that McDonald’s Australia chief executive Andrew Gregory said it was the company’s call, and not the government’s, to close 12 stores that the delivery driver attended.
Mr Gregory said McDonald’s had been working very closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and pre-emptively closed the stores, which he hoped would open after a deep clean, within days.
“He [the delivery driver] delivers the cartons of frozen products – the lettuce, the beef, the cheese – that we use in the restaurant,” Mr Gregory told 3AW.
“He has minimal contact with one or two or three employees at the restaurants.”
