Additional Coronavirus (COVID-19) update Monday 20 July 2020

Positive COVID-19 case in the Melbourne Wholesale Market
A few hours ago, the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) was informed that an individual who worked at the Melbourne Market last week, tested positive to COVID-19 earlier today.

The infected individual is Wayne Parker, a forklift driver.
Firstly, we want to wish Wayne a speedy recovery and send best wishes from the Market community.
Additionally, we want to thank Wayne for allowing us to disclose his name, as it will enable those who know they have come into close contact with him to get tested themselves or self-isolate.

Wayne’s access card data indicates he last attended the Market five days ago on Wednesday 15 July, where he entered the Market at 1:40 am and left at 8:05 am. It is unclear whether he was contagious at this time.

The MMA is currently looking at CCTV footage for the preceding ten days from 15 July to review Wayne’s movements, so where possible, we can inform those people who came into close contact with him.

The MMA spoke to representatives from the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) earlier tonight, and they advised that they are aware of the positive case and the surrounding circumstances. The DHHS advised that the MMA does not need to take any further action at this point. However, as a precaution, and for the safety of the wider Market community, we have temporarily suspended the access cards of several people who we know have worked in close contact with Wayne. These people have been made aware that their access has been suspended and notified that their access cards will be reactivated as soon as they receive a negative COVID-19 test result.

At the onset of this pandemic cleaning schedules at the Market were increased, we are regularly and thoroughly cleaning high-risk surfaces such as handrails, toilets and bathrooms.

As of today, Victoria had recorded a total of 5,942 cases of COVID-19. There is a significant amount of community transmission happening, and asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly pass the virus onto others.

At the Melbourne Market, we need to be in this together, for the sake of everyone’s health and livelihoods.
Make sure you’re doing the right thing; it’s simple, practice social distancing, wash & sanitise your hands, and wear a face mask.
It’s up to all of us to ensure these practices are being followed, so if you see someone disregarding the rules, call them out.

Questions
A summary of previous COVID-19 updates and operational changes are kept on our website, click here to access.
If you have any further questions, you can call the 24-hour security number, 0408 334 555.