Plans to overhaul medi-hotel system

SOUTH Australia (SA) has announced urgent plans to overhaul its medi-hotel system, amid a coronavirus cluster that emerged from Peppers Waymouth Hotel in Adelaide.

Those changes include moving all people who test positive into a separate medical facility, managed by SA Police and protective security officers.

Premier Steven Marshall said staff working at that medical facility would not be allowed to work at any other medi-hotels or other high-risk environments such as aged care.

“We will now transfer all positive Covid cases from medi-hotels to a dedicated health facility,” he said.

“Staff working at the dedicated facility will not be deployed to other high-risk environments, including aged care facilities, correctional facilities or hospitals.”

There are now 29 cases linked to South Australia’s Parafield cluster that is believed to trace back to an infected security guard at Peppers.

Adelaide’s medi-hotel system was yesterday put under renewed scrutiny, when it was revealed two people previously thought to have acquired COVID-19 overseas caught the virus while in quarantine.

Mr Marshall said he would discuss the planned changes with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) but would not wait for them to approve changes before implementing them. He will also ask national Cabinet to consider introducing a regime for testing returning Australians before they board their flights.

The old Wakefield Hospital in Adelaide is one option being considered for the central health facility for COVID-19 patients. Staff would also have access to accommodation if they chose to stay away from home while working there.