Coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne hotel linked to five security guards who had worked together

Coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne hotel linked to five security guards who had worked together and breached social distancing

  •  A coronavirus cluster at a luxury Melbourne hotel has increased to seven people
  •  Five Stamford Plaza security guards tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday 
  •  Health officials said the guards worked for several days whilst infectious 
  •  Hotel employees told management the guards breached social distancing rules
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

A COVID-19 cluster at a luxury hotel has grown after five security guards breached social distancing rules.   

Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese Van Dieman said the security guards brought the number of cases at the Stamford Plaza hotel, in central Melbourne, up to seven. 

‘There’s been some closer mingling than we would have liked of these guards in the workplace,’ she told reporters on Friday afternoon.   

A coronavirus cluster at the Stamford Plaza hotel (pictured), in central Melbourne, has increased to seven people after five security guards tested positive for COVID-19 

Health officials said the security guards worked for multiple days whilst infectious. Pictured: Police officers outside Melbourne's Crown Promenade quarantine hotel in March

Health officials said the security guards worked for multiple days whilst infectious. Pictured: Police officers outside Melbourne’s Crown Promenade quarantine hotel in March 

Dr Van Dieman said the infectious guards worked during a similar period of time at the five-star quarantine hotel. 

‘There’s a large cohort of security guards and workers and unfortunately it does appear that quite a few of them have worked for single or multiple days whilst infectious,’ she explained.  

She said the security guards had been trained in coronavirus protocol but other staff members reported social distancing breaches to the hotel management. 

‘All of the security guards are trained in appropriate use of personal protective equipment, they all have clear guidance around physical distancing practices in the workplace.

‘It does appear there have been some breaches of those guidelines at this point in time.   

‘A number of those things were observed directly by staff and reported in to the people managing the hotel’, Dr Van Dieman explained.    

Dr Van Dieman said she expected more coronavirus cases to emerge from the security guard outbreak. 

Stamford Plaza (pictured) employees told the hotel management that the security guards had been breaching social distancing and personal protective equipment rules

Stamford Plaza (pictured) employees told the hotel management that the security guards had been breaching social distancing and personal protective equipment rules

‘It’s a large hotel, there’s a number of returned travellers in the hotel which means there’s a large number of workers.

‘We do expect that there are quite possibly going to be further cases linked to that outbreak,’ she warned.     

Dr Van Dieman revealed one security guard was linked to a family coronavirus outbreak at Keilor Downs in Melbourne’s southeast.  

The Stamford Plaza outbreak comes as 13 Victorians returned positive coronavirus tests overnight.  

Dr Van Dieman said the easing of the state’s coronavirus restrictions would be ‘going ahead as planned’ on Monday.  

Gyms, cinemas, indoor sports centres and concert venues will open their doors for first time since March.

Gathering limits in bars, cafes and restaurants will also be raised from 20 to 50. 

Victoria currently has 91 active cases of COVID-19.  

Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese Van Dieman (pictured) on Friday revealed 13 Victorians returned positive coronavirus tests overnight

Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese Van Dieman (pictured) on Friday revealed 13 Victorians returned positive coronavirus tests overnight 

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