COVID-positive hotel quarantine employees worked while infectious
Two hotel quarantine workers who contracted coronavirus worked while infectious, DHHS has confirmed. Seven other workers have tested positive for the virus since July 27.
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Two hotel quarantine employees who had coronavirus were at work while infectious.
The Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement the pair were asymptomatic.
They were among nine workers who have tested positive at the remodelled program since July 27.
DHHS said the cases included one Victoria Police officer, one DHHS staff member, five Spotless staff and two agency staff.
The department said there were no active cases at the hotel quarantine program and the most recent positive was in late August.
It comes after police were hastily called in to take over security at Victoria’s last remaining quarantine hotel, where poor infection protocols “stood out like dog’s balls”, according to a whistleblower.
Staff from cleaning contractor Spotless were responsible for duties including floor monitoring at the Novotel until Wednesday, when they were replaced mid-shift by police amid infection concerns.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday denied Spotless staff were responsible for hotel security.
The Herald Sun has been told private guards were used to screen staff coming into the hotel but “floor monitors” were employed to ensure guests didn’t leave rooms and Protective Service Officers conducted routine floor checks.
However 24-hour security powers were handed over to Victoria Police on Wednesday.
“Police have been present at the Novotel Southbank since Monday 28 September, when guests were transferred to this location, performing community safety and security duties,” a police spokeswoman said.
“These duties were further expanded on Wednesday 30 September.”
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said there were concerns the state government’s hotel quarantine bungles had put Victoria at risk of a third wave.
“Daniel Andrews has not learned the lessons, and for the Premier to claim that these people weren’t doing an enforcement role just shows you, he’s more interested in covering up than fixing it up,” he said.
Urgent talks between the force and Police Association boss Wayne Gatt were underway on Thursday to ensure infection protocols were in place to protect police and the public from further outbreaks.
“We will be meticulous in ensuring this is the case. Anything less would be negligent to our members and to the Victorian community,” Mr Gatt said.
Infection investigators are working to determine whether nine hotel quarantine workers who tested positive to COVID-19 contracted the virus inside the state’s revamped hotel quarantine program.
The previous scheme led to Victoria’s disastrous second wave resulting in 768 deaths and 18,490 infections.
A whistleblower said poor coronavirus protocols “stood out like dog’s balls” at the Novotel.
In one alleged incident a COVID-positive guest was on Tuesday being moved to a room on the hotel’s 25th floor, dubbed the “red zone”, when she came into contact with a hotel worker wearing only a mask.
The hotel worker, delivering meals, came out of a separate lift even though the hotel was usually locked down when COVID-positive guests were being moved around, the whistleblower said.
The worker returned to the “green” lift and went downstairs without changing his mask, even though this was apparent protocol.
“My jaw literally just dropped,” the whistleblower said.
“Everybody who has entered the red zone is supposed to be fitted with a gown, face field and everything else.
“He came up with no PPE except for a face mask.
“He is probably infected right now. Everyone was talking about it – cops, staff, nurses. Everyone.”
The whistleblower said problems at the hotel were obvious to those who knew what was needed to contain the virus.
“You wouldn’t think this could happen given we’ve had a hotel quarantine inquiry.
“We could have another wave – a third wave – on our hands.”
Asked about the incident the whistleblower outlined, a Justice and Community Safety Department spokeswoman said: “There is no record of the incident referred to. We have established protocols in place to respond to potential infection control breaches”
“Infection control is the central focus of the reset COVID-19 accommodation program,” she said.
“There are clear processes in place for residents and staff to report or raise concerns about potential breaches.”
A Spotless spokesman said: “Infection control is paramount and all Spotless staff who work on the program complete mandatory PPE and infection prevention induction training and regular refresher training.”
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