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Perth security guard in isolation after bizarre hotel quarantine breach

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Rourke WalshThe West Australian
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VideoSecurity guard walked into couple's hotel room.

A Perth security guard is tonight in isolation following a bizarre hotel quarantine breach.

Halls Head couple Rob and Rosemary said the guard burst into their Mercure Hotel room around 9pm Saturday night looking for a TV remote.

“Even when we have the COVID tests, we have to stand at the door,” the couple said. “No one is supposed to come into our room. And it was a shock, especially for that time of night.”

The protocol breach has sparked an investigation with a Department of Health spokeswoman confirming the guard had been stood down and put into isolation.

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“The State Health Incident Coordination Centre, responsible for the management of State Quarantine facilities, was notified this morning of an incident at the Mercure Hotel overnight where a security guard entered the room of hotel guests in mandatory quarantine,” the spokeswoman said.

“A full investigation into the circumstances is currently underway. The security guard has been stood down to allow for the investigation to take place. This is standard protocol for any breach of hotel quarantine compliance in Western Australia.

“Inquiries to date indicate that the security guard entered a room that they believed to be unoccupied to complete a requested task.

“Given the lack of COVID-19 community transmission in WA and the limited time of exposure when the guard entered the room, the risk to the guests is believed to be extremely low. In addition the risk to the guard is also low.”

It comes after serious breaches in hotel security were linked to outbreaks of the coronavirus in Melbourne, which has been placed under strict lockdown as cases rose to more than 14,000.

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