Victorian Teacher Was Denied COVID-19 Virus Test Three Times

Stock image of a classroom. (Weisanjiang/Pixabay)

A Victorian school teacher who tested positive for COVID-19, and led to the shut down of a school, said he was denied a COVID-19 test three times before his case was recorded.

Keith Campbell told Nine’s Today program on May 5 that he thinks he caught the virus while at a bar with members of his family in March. But he did not have enough “box-ticking” symptoms for a test.

“I wasn’t severe enough to obviously warrant a test; basically that was it,” he said.

Continuing he said he had tried to get tested twice through the hospital and then the Department of Health and Human Services.

Campbell said he did not blame the health staff for refusing to test him.

By the time he was tested for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (commonly known as novel coronavirus), the virus’s cells in his nasal passage were dead.

Victorian state authorities have since closed Meadowglen primary school in Epping where he worked for two days to record video lessons for his music students at home.

“There were only two people that were with me and they’ve since been checked out and found to be negative, so there was no problem,” Campbell said.

Meadowglen school principal Loretta Piazza confirmed to The Epoch Times on May 5 that Campbell did not come into contact with any students.

She previously told 3AW radio on May 3: “He’s a music teacher and a brilliant music teacher. He was preparing some videos to post online to our kids working at home, and all his contact has been with staff and adults.”

Premier Daniel Andrews commented on the case on Twitter on May 3, saying, “You might have heard about this on the news ... A teacher at Meadowglen Primary in Epping has tested positive for coronavirus. He’s recovering at home, and our thoughts and best wishes go out to him.”

Andrew said students who can’t learn from home would be able to attend another local school.

The state government named the school on Sunday soon after federal education minister Dan Tehan criticised Premier Daniel Andrews over his refusal to open schools.

Tehan withdrew his comments later that same day.

This article was updated to include a response from Meadowglen school Principal Loretta Piazza.