COVID-19 positive test at Royal Melbourne forces staff to isolate

Up to 30 staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital were forced to isolate on Saturday after a patient returned an initial positive test to COVID-19.

The woman underwent a test after attending the hospital’s emergency department. A second test was conducted to determine whether the reading was a false positive.

Up to 30 Royal Melbourne Hospital staff were forced to isolate after an emergency patient tested positive to COVID-19. It was later found to be a false positive.Credit: Pat Scala

The Department of Health and Human Services said the Expert Review Panel was called in to review one case where a low positive result was returned from a coronavirus test.

A spokeswoman said the second test returned a negative reading.

The Age understands the hospital took immediate action to send doctors, nurses and others in the emergency department into isolation as a precaution.

The Victorian president of the Australian Medical Association praised the hospital’s decision to quickly send staff into isolation after the initial positive test.

"False positives occur," AMA president Julian Rait said.

"It sounds as though all appropriate infection prevention protocols were followed on this occasion."

Victoria has not recorded a local coronavirus case in more than eight weeks, but there are 10 cases in quarantine from returned travellers.

"It reminds us of the need to be continually vigilant and COVID-cautious until such time that we have widespread vaccination," Associate Professor Rait told The Age.

The DHHS said an update on cases in Victoria will be provided in the CHO’s daily media release on Sunday.

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