Horror tales from ‘crazy floor’ of Rydges on Swanston quarantine hotel
Security guards struggled to contain hysterical guests locked up on the so-called “crazy floor” of a Swanston St quarantine hotel. Poorly trained guards were overwhelmed, with the spread of the virus from there thought to have triggered Victoria’s deadly second wave.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Security guards struggled to contain a “crazy floor” of locked up hotel quarantine guests at the Rydges Hotel in Melbourne’s Swanston Street.
The Australian reports the poorly trained guards were overwhelmed by the screaming, crying and banging on walls of guests begging to be let out.
An independent inquiry into the spread of the virus is expected to hear evidence that guests offered bribes to guards to escape for fresh air.
The opening of the inquiry heard claims it was possible every recent case of coronavirus in Victoria could be linked back to the outbreak from hotel quarantine.
The inquiry will hear that in one case a distraught women made a dash for the door after collapsing in the hotel hallway complaining she needed to “breathe”.
A guest of Rydges, released from the hotel after returning from Europe in April, has told The Australian he stayed on the “crazy floor” with “people going absolutely nuts”.
“They were begging to be let out and running for the doors.”
While other states relied on the Australian Defence Force to man quarantined travellers Victoria outsourced the job to private security firms.
The guest told The Australian that the guards seemed ill-equipped to handle the situation.
“The guards had no real authority … they gave the impression they could be talked around. And guests were going up to the security guards, begging and offering money to be let out. It was insane.”
— Read the full story here.
The Herald Sun has previously exposed inadequate supplies of masks and gloves, poor infection control protocols and a lack of social distancing at the hotels.
One scandalised hotel employee has spoken of shenanigans that defy the law, the spirit of the system, and every measure of common decency. Over drinks after his shift, he said guards at his hotel had been trading sex for letting guests out.
Public hearings of the inquiry begin on Thursday.
Topics to be examined include the nature of COVID-19, infection control, epidemiology and contact tracing, and genomic testing. The report is due on September 23, after the Victorian lockdown ends.
MORE NEWS
TRAVELLERS DEMAND MOVE FROM ‘PUTRID’ QUARANTINE HOTEL