Photos of blood-stained sheets and used PPE in Victorian quarantine hotel rooms shown to inquiry
Blood-stained sheets and used personal protective equipment greeted travellers at a Melbourne quarantine hotel, an inquiry has heard.
Photos, taken by quarantined traveller Hugh de Kretser and presented at the inquiry today, appear to show large stains, mould, discarded gloves, face masks and personal belongings strewn through the room at the Rydges on Swanston hotel. Supplied - Hugh de Kretser
Photos, taken by quarantined traveller Hugh de Kretser and presented at the inquiry today, appear to show large stains, mould, discarded gloves, face masks and personal belongings strewn through the room at the Rydges on Swanston hotel.
Blood stains can also be seen on bedding, while other photos show hair collecting in the corner of a doorway, water damage marks on a wall, food scraps behind furniture and hygienic gloves left shoved underneath beds.
"What we saw completely undermined any confidence (in the program)," Mr de Kretser, the executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre, told the inquiry.
READ MORE: Victoria records 240 new coronavirus cases, 13 additional deaths
"The intake procedure seemed disorganised and chaotic."
The inquiry, led by former judge Jennifer Coate, is investigating the COVID-19 outbreaks among staff and private security guards at the Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plaza, which have been blamed for "99 per cent" the state's second wave.
A protective face mask was left on the floor of the room. Supplied - Hugh de Kretser
Water damage marks and stains were also seen on the walls of the room. Supplied - Hugh de Kretser
Dust was seen collecting on top of powerpoints on the room's walls. Supplied - Hugh de Kretser
The evidence shown today comes after serious flaws in the training given to security guards were also exposed.
Security guards at the hotels were given just a 30-minute training module to prepare, which experts say was more suited to raising general public awareness than for someone dealing with the virus.
Alarmingly, the module asked whether everyone should wear a mask and according to a July version, people were required to answer "false" to the statement.
Protective gloves were also left on the floor of the room and hair was snapped collecting in patches of mould in doorways. Supplied - Hugh de Kretser
Victoria today recorded 240 new COVID-19 cases, meaning the state's tally of infections since the pandemic began stands at 17,683.
Thirteen new deaths since yesterday also means that 376 people have lost their lives as a result of coronavirus in Victoria.
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