Myer employee among surge in confirmed virus infections


Solomon Lew has flagged he will call an extraordinary general meeting of Myer shareholders. Photo: Getty
A worker at a suburban Myer is among 21 new cases of coronavirus reported in Victoria on Friday morning.
State Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said a staff member at Myer Highpoint, in Melbourneās west, had tested positive for the virus.
The store was being cleaned and Victoriaās contact tracing unit was investigating.
The other confirmed infections on Friday included two linked to the cluster at the McDonaldās in Fawkner, in Melbourneās north, and one linked to the Cedar Meats abattoir outbreak.
Six of the new cases are returned travellers in mandatory hotel quarantine.
OneĀ case has been reclassified, bringing the stateās total to 1543.

The outbreak at the Fawkner McDonaldās has grown to 91 confirmed COVID-19 infections. Photo: AAP
Earlier, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the impact of the coronavirus had brought the stateās finances to at least a $773 million deficit.
The March quarter financial report released on Thursday was initially expected to pave the way for a surplus budget of $618 million.
Instead, Mr Pallas said the effects of COVID-19 and the summer bushfires had taken a toll. The government has invested more than $5 billion to fight the pandemic.
The year to March recorded a deficit of $773 million, although the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic will not be known for months.
āWeāre not chasing surpluses and we wonāt deliver a surplus in this yearās budget, let me be very clear,ā Mr Pallas said.
āBut what we will do is put a surplus of effort into looking after the welfare of Victorians.ā
The Treasurer said the stateās budget will be produced in October or November and warned the situation could worsen as the government will continue spending to ensure Victoriansā wellbeing.
Restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the deadly virus have been forecast to produce a 14 per cent gross state product decline in the June quarter.
Previous measures taken to aid bushfire-affected areas, such as halving the stamp duty for businesses that needed to relocate or expand, are also expected to hit Victoriaās finances in the next quarter.
-with AAP








