Government employees pulled from hotels due to unsafe quarantine environment

The Victorian hotel quarantine saga continues to make headlines. 

This week it was reported staff of two Victorian Government agencies were pulled out from overseeing hotel quarantine due to fears that they were working in an unsafe environment, with inadequate direction from Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Authorised officers working under the DHHS were assigned to work at hotels to supervise the two-week isolation of returned international travellers. These workers were originally  public servants from Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.

Most of these authorised officers had no public health experience. They were given the power to enforce compliance with laws and regulations on behalf of government departments.

Some local government officers who were asked to work in hotel quarantine also decided to remove themselves from this position.

A senior official from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

who had a number of staff working as authorised officers sent several emails to DHHS conveying his concerns before withdrawing his staff.

One official who has chosen to remain anonymous said the authorised officers were working with inadequate direction from DHHS.

He revealed that there was no training before they started with regard to how to use personal protective equipment or masks. He also said there was uncertainty about the policy to allow guests in quarantine outside for fresh air and exercise. He did confirm that security guards were used to escort guests outside.

Those working in hotel quarantine only received the procedures guideline after it was issued on 29 April, a month after the 14 day mandatory isolation period began.

The policy and procedures document states that it was up to the returned traveller to tell an authorised officer if they were feeling unwell before they were taken outside.

Under the heading ‘Guidance for person in detention’, it states: "The steps that must be taken by the person in detention are: Confirm to the person who will escort them that they are well. Confirm to the person who will escort them that they have washed their hands immediately prior to leaving the room."

Public hearings into the quarantine fiasco begin on 6 August with a report expected by 25 September.