Acting Premier James Merlino on Wednesday announced the resumption of the program after the government received new advice on mutant coronavirus strains and hotel ventilation.Hotel residents will now be tested four times during their stay and hotels across the quarantine system upgrade to remove the risk of COVID-19 spreading between rooms.Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino has announced the resumption of the hotel quarantine program and International flights into VictoriaInvestigations into the source of small outbreaks within the program identified that some hotel rooms were “positively pressured”, which meant air was flowing out into the corridor.It’s understood this could then have contributed to infections involved staff or guests in other rooms.Safer Care Victoria was asked to review three separate outbreaks within hotel quarantine in January and February.They found that ventilation systems in hotel would likely need to meet new higher standards to reduce the risk of infections throughout the program.There are about six hotels which are waiting further investigation while improvements are underway at another eight.“We’ve taken the action and time necessary to ensure we have the most rigorous quarantine system possible in place to protect against these highly-infectious, rapidly changing variants of concern,” Mr Merlino said.“The challenges of this virus will be with use for some time to come, that’s why we’ve listened to the advice of experts and made the necessary changes to ensure we’re keeping Victorians safe.”Other recommended improvements included improved screening to detect medical devices and other banned items, a doubling of resident testing and Day 14 testing.Returned travellers will also be contacted on Day 16 to check for symptoms and recommend further tests on Day 17 and 21.Two recommendations to mandate the risk of gloves by staff and to close resident’s doors during testing were refused.These were denied because it was believed they could increase the danger of infections, with regularly sanitised hands preferred to gloves.VARIANTS OF CONCERNThe Andrews Government has also released Deputy chief health officer Professor Allen Cheng’s review into coronavirus variants.The report call for all hotel quarantine staff to receive at least a first dose of the vaccine, with at least 4000 frontline workers vaccinated so far.Prof Cheng also called on COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria and the Department of Health to clarify who was responsible for key roles such as contact tracing and issuing detention notices for return travellers.National Vaccine RolloutFINAL REPORT FEEDBACKHome-based quarantine systems will be floated at national cabinet as part of Victoria’s response to the hotel quarantine inquiry.THE final 12 recommendations made by the inquiry into the bungled program have been accepted by the state government.This includes an agreement to fix the issues in oversight and decision making exposed by the probe led by Justice Jennifer Coate.The government will review the State Emergency Management Plan and the structure of command surrounding its response to any public health crisis.Starting in 2022, the Department of Health will run annual pandemic planning exercises.Other recommendations will also be taken to national cabinet because they require support from the Commonwealth.Mr Merlino has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison asking that all state consider the potential to quarantine return travellers at home.Other issues include nationally agreed rules for fresh air breaks and improved records tracking the details of those who return to the country.kieran.rooney@news.com.au
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