News

ARN Melbourne staff member tests positive for COVID-19, with office temporarily shut down

The Australian Radio Network (ARN) office in Melbourne is temporarily closed after a team member tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The news emerged this morning when Christian O’Connell, the breakfast presenter on ARN’s Gold 104.3, took to Twitter to say the station “has had to go into a 24 [hour] emergency Corona lockdown”.

The show which went to air on Gold 104.3 this morning was a special the network had pre-recorded as a contingency, should an event such as this occur.

O’Connell urged people to stay safe, and stay at home, and said the regular show would be back tomorrow morning.

ARN confirmed a staff member had tested positive late yesterday afternoon after contact with a person who had recently returned from overseas.

It noted the staff member had minimal access to the ARN office in Melbourne due to its continuity and working from home plans, but noted health and wellbeing of staff was the absolute priority.

ARN’s full statement:

“After contact with a person who recently returned from overseas, late yesterday a staff member of the ARN Melbourne team tested positive for COVID-19.

“This staff member had minimal access within the ARN Melbourne office and as all non-essential staff were already working from home, this person’s contact with others at ARN was limited.

“The health and well-being of our people is our number one priority and, as such, we’re in constant communication with any Melbourne staff who may have been in contact with this person.

“In line with Government advice, the ARN Melbourne office is currently closed while being professionally sanitised.

“Due to ARN’s business continuity plans, the GOLD104.3 and KIIS 101.1 stations remain broadcasting and our technology and resources are in place to ensure all staff, including on air talent, news and content teams, can work from home and other appropriate locations.

“We will continue to work with the appropriate Government bodies to further contain and manage the situation.”

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