AN EMPLOYEE of a Port Fairy hair salon has tested positive for coroanvirus and authorities are in touch with close contacts including staff and clients.
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Salt Hair director Vicki Hetherington temporarily closed her business last weekend when learning one of her staff was a close contact of a case at Holcim's Tarrone Lane quarry site.
She said that staff member had now tested positive for coronavirus.
"To ensure the safety of our team and clients I made the decision to temporarily close the salon," Ms Hetherington said. "On Monday we received the sad news that our team member had also tested positive."
She said she had liaised with the Department of Health and Human Services regarding any team members and clients who were at the salon at the same time as the affected staff member.
"All have since been contacted by the tracing team and given the relevant advice," Ms Hetherington said.
"This news is devastating to us as a small business, in a small community. We had taken every precaution to minimise the risk of the virus, and hope these measures contain the spread.
"We are working closely with various agencies to arrange a deep clean of the salon so we can eventually safely reopen."
Moyne Shire Council mayor Daniel Meade said the council was assisting the business.
"The business had all necessary safety precautions in place and made the proactive decision to close the business once it was established the team member was a close contact of a positive case," Cr Meade said.
He said contact tracers had reached out to all people present during two days the affected staff member was at work last week.
"It is believed the affected staff member, who does not reside in Port Fairy, did not visit other locations in town, and remained at the business for the duration of their shifts, before returning home," Cr Meade said.
Cr Meade said the case was a reminder the virus could affect anyone.
"Even with the strictest of safety protocols in place, a business can still be impacted through close contacts of others," he said.
"Our local businesses are doing it so tough already. I encourage the Moyne community to rally around our businesses and support them, and when this particular business reopens, get behind them."
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