COVID-19: Australian quarantine hotels slammed
The Guardian
The Australian Medical Association has slammed the management of Western Australia’s hotel management system after genomic sequencing suggested that a security guard acquired the virus from a returned US traveler.
On Saturday last week, health authorities in Western Australia detected the “Pan Pacific cluster” after routine testing of a security guard working at the Pan Pacific Hotel quarantine site. The guard and two of his housemates, who work as food delivery drivers, tested positive.
Yesterday, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said that the security guard did not contract COVID-19 due to ventilation issues at the hotel a common cause of other quarantine outbreaks.
For the second time in nine days, Perth is nervously awaiting a decision that could plunge 2 million people into lockdown after a Covid-19 outbreak from hotel quarantine.
There are fears at least one of the people was circulating in Perth for up to four days before it was confirmed he had Covid-19.
Photo: AFP
Three cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Perth on Saturday, stemming from a security guard who was infected with the virus while working at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
It s believed the man in his 20s was infectious in the community for four days after potentially contracting the virus from two Covid-19 positive overseas travellers quarantining on the same hotel floor he was guarding.
Jane Osemudiamen
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has announced that all the direct passenger flights from India will remain suspended until May 15 due to rising Coronavirus numbers in the country.
Earlier, it was reported that Australia will consider a proposal on Tuesday to suspend flights to prevent the more dangerous variant of Coronavirus from entering the country.
Queensland State had urged the Australian government to suspend all passenger flights from India due to the high risk of getting highly contagious virus variants inside Australia.
“I sent a letter to the Prime Minister at the end of last week asking for the suspension of flights coming in from India … and I know that the federal government is considering it today,” said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The federal government is standing firm on its threat to jail travellers trying to return from India, as the states and territories begin a new phase to vaccinate people aged 50 years and over.