Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Australian state of Victoria has announced a judicial inquiry into the management of a hotel quarantine scheme after a surge in the number of coronavirus infections were linked to protocol breaches, including reports of private contractors having sex with quarantined travellers.
Guests in the hotels linked to the outbreak, which has resulted in hundreds of new positive cases of Covid-19, were returning travellers who were required to spend 14 days in quarantine.
State premier Daniel Andrews announced the A$3 million (approximately £1.6 million) inquiry as the government faces scrutiny over the outbreak, which led to 300,000 people in Melbourne being locked down.
Other allegations included a systematic failure to provide proper training and personal protective equipment to contracted security guards. Families were also reportedly allowed to move between rooms.
There were also cases of illegal socialising among staff, such as sharing cigarette lighters or car-pooling, said Mr Andrews.
“It is abundantly clear that what has gone on here is completely unacceptable and we need to know exactly what has happened,” he said in a statement.
Lisa Neville, the state’s emergency services minister, told ABC News: “I’m angry, whether it was individuals or companies did not take this seriously enough, and we’ve got this spread. I think they’ve let Victorians down.”
Australia’s Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said the allegations of guards sleeping with guests in quarantine, if true, “would be completely and utterly unacceptable”.
Speaking to broadcaster Channel Seven, he said authorities in the state would be encouraged “to throw the book at them”, adding: “There are two cases where it appears that there have been clear breaches with significant ramifications.”
Friday saw an increase of 66 new cases in Victoria, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 2,368, reported the Department of Health and Human Services.
A “targeted blitz” of widespread testing was launched in 10 suburbs in Melbourne to identify and mitigate the chains of community transmission.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments