Hotel quarantine nurse tests postive to coronavirus

Health officials are trying to determine how a nurse working in at quarantine hotel contracted Covid, amid fresh concerns of a virus leak.

Investigators are trying to determine how a nurse working in Victoria’s hotel quarantine system contracted Covid. Picture Rebecca Michael

Investigators are trying to determine how a nurse working in Victoria’s hotel quarantine system contracted Covid-19, raising fresh concerns of a virus leak.

A further 31 hotel quarantine workers are now isolating after working at the Flinders Lane Holiday Inn health hotel, where 151 guests with confirmed Covid-19 infections are currently being housed.

After testing positive on Monday the female nurse was one of 246 new local Covid cases announced on Tuesday, which included more than 150 mystery cases.

A spokesman for Alfred Health, which provides medical services and staff within the Flinders Lane health hotel, said the nurse is now in isolation and contact tracing was ongoing.

Genomic testing is also being undertaken to help determine whether the transmission is linked to a hotel quarantine guest, or whether the nurse was infected in the wider community as part of Melbourne’s continuing Delta outbreak.

Over thirty hotel quarantine workers are now isolating after working at the Flinders Lane Holiday Inn health hotel. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

“Alfred Health has taken a conservative approach to furlough, and 31 staff from the health hotel are currently isolating,” the Alfred spokesman said.

“The investigation, which is underway, has not identified any PPE or protocol breaches.

Our priority remains the health of our staff as we continue to do this important work for the community.”

Victoria’s second wave, which claimed 801 lives, stemmed from coronavirus leaking from the hotel quarantine program, though an inquiry led by Jennifer Coate failed to hold any individuals responsible for the bungles.

The nurse is not believed to have symptoms, but was found to have contracted Covid as part of daily testing now required under the revamped program.

The nurse is fully vaccinated and had returned negative Covid tests while working shifts at the Holiday Inn on Friday September 3 and Saturday September 4, but a Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria spokesman said 31 other staff have been furloughed as a precaution.

“Alfred Health is working with the Department of Health to determine the source of the transmission, including undertaking genomic testing,” he said.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton on Tuesday said work was being undertaken to assess the impact of the infection, thought the hotel would remain open for business as the investigation continued.