Coronavirus: Guard told to isolate but went to work: ‘I was bored’

A guard who tested positive to virus after working at hotel linked to most of Victoria’s second wave worked on while symptomatic.

Kaan Ofli told the quarantine inquiry that he had never been offered a test for coronavirus and was refused a test when he and his partner asked for one. Source: Instagram

A hotel security guard who tested positive for coronavirus delivered food around Melbourne suburbs while infectious because he felt bored, an inquiry into the quarantine fiasco linked to Victoria’s deadly second wave, has heard.

The man, known only as Security 16, told the inquiry into the state’s bungled program on Monday, that despite testing positive a second time, he went to work in a warehouse because Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services informed him he didn’t have to isolate.

In total, Security 16 worked at three hotels across April and May, including simultaneous stints at the Marriott Hotel and Novotel, as well as working twice a week at a warehouse and sometimes delivering food.

He began working from mid May at the Rydges on Swanston after being recruited on Whatsapp by subcontractor SSG Security for $26 an hour, with Unified Security holding the contract with the Victorian government.

The inquiry has already heard that the majority of Victoria’s second wave cases of COVID-19 can be linked to one family who stayed at the Rydges in May.

On Monday, Security 16 told the inquiry he was working at the Rydges when he saw other security guards sniffling in the break room.

A couple of hours later, his nose began running and he developed a slight cough.

“I thought it was a common cold symptom,” he said.

Security 16 said he didn’t tell anyone at Rydges he felt unwell and did not see any authorised DHHS officers onsite.

When his shift finished in the morning, Security 16 drove home and saw a sign on the Eastern Freeway that said to get tested for COVID-19 if you developed symptoms.

He took a coronavirus test at a hospital near his home but a couple of hours later felt better and made three to four deliveries of food, despite being told to self-isolate.

“I was feeling pretty good and I was getting bored at my house,” he said. “I wanted to divert my mind.”

Kaan Ofli gives evidence on Monday morning.

The next day, he tested positive for the coronavirus.

Security 16 said two-three days after completing his 14-day isolation period, he began experiencing respiratory symptoms again.

He tested positive a second time and informed DHHS, who told him he didn’t need to self-isolate further.

“When DHHS called me, they told me you’ve already covered the period of isolation so you’re allowed to go outside because you’ve covered the period of isolation.”

He said he stayed at home for four or five days before returning to work at a warehouse when he felt better.

“I read in the news that it is possible for the patient to still have positive tests for two or three months because the particles may be in your body but you can’t be infectious,” he said.

Security 16 told the inquiry a couple of days after starting at the Rydges, he was told he would only receive one mask and one pair of gloves for the entirety of his 12-hour shift due to a shortage of personal protective equipment.

He said a supervisor told him to remove his gloves and masks and put them in his pocket away from security cameras, which he believed was to hide the fact SSG Security had insufficient PPE to man hotel quarantine.

“He told me don’t put your mask and gloves in your pocket in front of the security camera,” he said.

Security 16 said he continued hiding used PPE in his pockets after learning there were positive cases at the Rydges and it was likely other guards were doing the same.

In his statement, Security 16 said he saw guards smoking together but not sharing cigarettes while some of his colleagues put holes in their gloves to use their phones.

He described his employment as “casual” and said he did not need to undertake additional training or learn about the coronavirus.