The Department of Health has announced that hotel quarantine security personnel and cleaning staff working in the front-line response to the COVID-19 pandemic are now required to undertake more frequent testing.
The directions are part of a new weekly mandatory testing program requiring security and cleaning staff to be tested every seven days to better protect these workers in higher risk environments.
Minister for Health, Roger cook said workers were provided with regular refresher training in the correct application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment and infection prevention and control practices by trained public health nurses.
“This new measure is an additional layer of reassurance to ensure these systems are working,” Mr Cook said.
“All other staff employed at State-run quarantine hotels already have access to testing under the DETECT Borders program. Front-line workers can receive asymptomatic testing at COVID-19 clinics at any time as often as every seven days.”
He said lessons learnt from outbreaks in Victoria and South Australia had shown that hotel quarantine was a key source of infection because it was used for international arrivals.
“Security guards and cleaning staff working in hotel quarantine are a vital part of our front-line defence. Their professionalism and commitment has been vital to ensuring that Western Australia has been the safest State in Australia for many, many months.” Mr Cook said.
“The State Government continues to work around the clock to ensure that all staff tasked with keeping the Western Australian community safe are also protected.”
