Holiday Inn Flinders Lane quarantine hotel evacuated with patient leaving with garbage bag over head

A guest infected with COVID has been evacuated from a flooded quarantine hotel with what appeared to be a black garbage bag over their head.

The first coronavirus positive patient has been evacuated from a Melbourne quarantine hotel after a sprinkler system caused extensive water damage.

They left the Holiday Inn “hot hotel” on Flinders Lane just before 10am and came out of the hotel with what appeared to be a garbage bag over their head.

Then they boarded a SkyBus to be taken to the Pullman hotel in Albert Park. The patient was the only person on the bus.

The garbage bag could have been to protect their identity and help prevent the spread of infection.

The patient was assisted by a health worker dressed in full personal protective equipment and a face shield.

The Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane is the second Melbourne quarantine hotel to be evacuated in less than a week.

It is a “hot hotel”, meaning every resident is infected with coronavirus, and is being evacuated on Tuesday morning while repairs for water damage are completed.

A quarantined coronavirus positive international traveller boards a coach outside the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane to be transported to the Pullman Albert Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

A COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria spokeswoman said 31 residents and staff would be transferred to the Pullman Hotel in Albert Park.

The Pullman Hotel was previously used to quarantine Australian Open participants and was assessed at the most suitable hotel within the COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria program to house the infected guests.

The water damage was caused by a sprinkler system which activated without a fire occurring on the fourth floor of the Holiday Inn on Saturday.

It resulted in water damage to four of the eight floors at the hotel.

A guest being escorted out of Holiday Inn hotel with a garbage bag over their head.

A police officer outside the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane on Tuesday morning: Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“Residents at the Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders are being transferred to an alternate health hotel on Tuesday,” the spokeswoman said.

“After a review of the available options, the Pullman Albert Park Hotel was assessed by ventilation experts and determined as the most suitable hotel within CQV’s current hotel stock to accommodate symptomatic and positive residents.

“Strict infection prevention and control measures will be followed during the transfer to ensure the health and safety of residents, staff and the community.”

Police stationed outside the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane as resident prepare to be evacuated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The first patient has been evacuated. They came out with what looks like a garbage bag over their head. Taken to the Pullman in a Skybus - they were the only person on board. 31 people have to be moved - this is going to be a slow and steady process @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/Xfpep4DuJd

— Steph Anderson (@_StephAnderson) February 15, 2021

COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria Commissioner Emma Cassar said the fire system leaked or burst in a room that was unoccupied at the time.

The water then spread into and damaged the staffing areas.

She said on Saturday – before a decision was made to evacuate the hotel – that some residents were moved to higher levels of the Holiday Inn to avoid the damage.

COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria Commissioner Emma Cassar revealed the water damage on Saturday. Picture: Luis Ascui/Getty Images

It comes after 48 quarantining returned travellers at a different Holiday Inn hotel at Melbourne Airport were evacuated on Wednesday last week following an outbreak of cases.

That hotel was closed for “terminal cleaning” after an authorised officer, two food and beverage workers, another worker and two residents all contracted COVID-19 within the Holiday Inn.

The total number of COVID-19 cases linked to the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn – the cluster that send Victoria back into a third lockdown – is now 19.

About 135 COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria staff were stood down and 48 residents were evacuated from the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn to the Pullman hotel Melbourne on February 10.

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