Coronavirus Australia: Victoria resumes hotel quarantine program
The state has overhauled its hotel quarantine system and will be put to the test when overseas arrivals begin returning in two weeks.
Victoria’s hotel quarantine system will be put to the test once again, with the state government declaring the program will start accepting international arrivals in two weeks’ time.
A host of changes have been made to the program to reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission, including that returning travellers will now be tested on four separate occasions in quarantine and there will be reduced room capacity for family groups.
Off the back of three separate reviews into the hotel quarantine system – including inquiries into ventilation, variants of concern and a Safer Care Victoria review – the state government reiterated their commitment to developing a purpose built quarantine accommodation.
Ten sites are being considered, which will eventually be narrowed down to one stand alone accommodation hub based on the Howard Springs model.
As part of the revamped hotel quarantine program, guests will now be COVID tested on days zero, four, 12 and 14. They will also be contacted two days after they leave for a “symptom check” and will be encouraged to get tested again on days 17 and 21.
Quarantine staff will also be required to undergo regular training and testing to ensure they know how to properly fit an N-95 face mask. Use of the N-95 masks will also be increased as well as use of tier 3 personal protective equipment.
Contact between staff and residents will also be reduced, with staggered meal deliveries and room buffers introduced in February.
The SCV report said it had boosted communication to guests about the requirement to wear masks before they open their door for food deliveries and testing.
Independent ventilation assessments are underway at all hotel quarantine sites.
After the government claimed the outbreak at the Holiday Inn was caused by use of a nebuliser, the government said it would introduce “additional screening measures” for medical devices.
This will include “a nurse spotter working with the Australian Border Force to identify any aerosol generating devices” at airports, the Safe Care Victoria review recommended.
Acting premier James Merlino said the hotel quarantine program would allow the state to respond to “infectious new variants” of COVID-19.
“We have taken the action and time necessary to ensure we have the most rigorous quarantine system possible in place to protect against these highly-infectious, rapidly changing variants of concern,” Mr Merlino said.
“The challenges of this virus will be with us for some time to come, that’s why we have listened to the advice of experts and made the necessary changes to ensure we are keeping Victorians safe,” he said.
The reviews were sparked by a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holiday Inn in early February, which infected 25 people and sent the state into a five day snap lockdown.
The state’s hotel quarantine system has been closed since February 14.
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