Probe of 'COVID control breaches'

An investigation is now underway after four Royal Perth Hospital staff were forced into quarantine over two alleged COVID-19 personal protective equipment breaches.

Yesterday afternoon, a staff member was placed in quarantine after allegedly removing their mask prematurely during an interaction with a COVID-positive patient.

The incident came less than 48 hours after three staff members from Royal Perth Hospital were placed in quarantine for unknowingly using a lift that had been used to transport a COVID-positive patient 15 minutes earlier.

It is understood the lift had not been cordoned off and the staff involved were not wearing personal protective equipment when they entered the lift.

With the staff involved having received their first dose of the vaccine, Health Minister Roger Cook said the incidents were not deemed to be “high risk”, but confirmed they were being reviewed by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

“They’re two very different circumstances,” he said.

“In the first case, the three staff weren’t to know that they weren’t to use the elevator.

“Each of those staff had received the first dose of the vaccine, so we don’t believe that incident to be high risk.

“In relation to the second one, each member of staff has a buddy that goes in with them.

“In that situation, one of the staff members took off their PPE, and that incident is being investigated.”

The incidents drew criticism from the Liberal Party deputy and health spokesperson Libby Mettam, who said they were evidence of gaping holes in the state’s infection control system and the management of infected patients.

Now more than 12 months into the pandemic, Ms Mettam said such basic measures and procedures should well and truly be in place. 

The incident coincided with the announcement of a new public health order which will make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for those working in the state’s hotel quarantine system.

Under the plan, hotel security guards, cleaners, hotel workers, medical and health staff and WA Police officers working within the state’s hotel quarantine system will be required to get the vaccine.

The health order is set to be issued next Monday, April 27, and will be enforced a fortnight later.

Just 66 per cent of those working in hotel quarantine had consented to having the vaccine, 62 per cent of whom had already had their first dose.

With the low take up of the vaccine among security staff, Mr Cook said further measures needed to be taken and the state government was consulting with the security firms to do that.

“We’re prepared to take the necessary steps to ensure that these people most at risk do in fact get themselves vaccinated,” he said.

“We continue to consult with the security firms about the vaccination roll out.”