Royal Children’s Hospital staff test positive for COVID-19
There’s been a concerning development in Victoria’s coronavirus surge after five staff members at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne tested positive for COVID-19.
Issuing a statement, the hospital said the five workers are not linked to any one team, and another seven staff members are now also self-isolating from home.
"Our team members are being supported by their managers and the hospital's People and Culture team," the statement said.
"The RCH has restricted all patient visitors except parents/guardians since April. This includes siblings and extended family and exemptions are only allowed in the most extreme circumstances."
The infections come less than a week after a store at the hospital believed to be a sushi shop in the food court, was also closed when one of its own staff members contracted COVID-19.
"A private retail premises located on the Campus was closed last Friday by the franchisee after a 'back of house' worker tested positive to COVID-19," an RCH spokesperson said.
"As this is a private retail tenancy, contact tracing is being managed by DHHS. The RCH has received no advice to any risk to patrons however took the measure of advising all staff as soon as we became aware and also placing advisory notices."
Since the pandemic began, 357 health care workers have been infected with 130 of those still active.
"The majority of health care workers who test positive to coronavirus acquired the illness outside the workplace," a DHHS spokesperson said in a statement.
"Hospitals have strict processes in place to manage any health worker infections – including rigorous contact tracing, additional quarantine requirements for impacted staff and extra deep cleaning at potential exposure points."