Victoria investigates police replacement and security oversight fired travelers with robots

Victoria’s hotel quarantine program, which was reset late last year after security guards planted coronavirus in the community that led to the deadly second wave of the pandemic, has been plagued by to unrest in recent weeks.

There have been multiple leaks out of hotel quarantine despite Prime Minister Daniel Andrews bragging that Victoria has the strictest diet in place.

The state was plunged into its third lockdown about two weeks ago after the transmission to the Holiday Inn hotel near Melbourne Airport, with strong evidence of the airborne spread of COVID-19.

Two returning travelers who have never crossed paths but stayed on the same floor of the Park Royal hotel transmitted the UK variant of the coronavirus between them last month, Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville at the time saying: “The viral load in the family’s room in five was so high that just opening the door to collect food saw the virus enter the hallway.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old Noble Park man who worked at the Grand Hyatt returned a positive COVID-19 test earlier this month despite being a “model employee” who followed all safety protocols. Authorities at the time launched an investigation into the potential aerial and surface spread of the virus.

A spokesperson for CQV said the agency would undertake a pilot project of the robot at one of the hotels in the coming weeks.

“We are currently considering options to install additional CCTV cameras in quarantine hotels to bolster current coverage,” the spokesperson said.

“Video surveillance is an important tool in verifying compliance and resident well-being, but it will not replace the role currently played by CQV Home Support Officers in monitoring floors. We are always looking for ways to improve and strengthen the quarantine program, including exploring how technology can play a role in the quarantine system. “

Although all hotels in the hotel quarantine program have a level of video surveillance, not all floors are equipped with cameras.

The government had previously indicated that it had no plans to install security cameras on every floor, although Queensland authorities had demanded that all floors of their hotel program be fitted with CCTV after a cluster reported to the Grand Chancellor hotel.

In his presentation to CQV, Monjon said the robots could provide a ground surveillance service to minimize worker exposure to returning travelers, who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are at high risk of infection. .

Mr Goudsblom said the robots were fitted with 360-degree cameras, microphones, speakers and sensors to monitor a range of situations and provide real-time information to Victoria police officers and security guards on site .

They are able to identify workers, verify that they are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and take their temperature.

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The robots would also be able to monitor the floors and verify that guests do not open their doors. If they detected any violations or anomalies, the technology could send an alert to authorized officers, including police, on site to enforce the rules, Goudsblom said.

“So instead of having 15 or 20 police or security guards to watch each floor, you would have five who are on site at the hotel’s quarantine and who can be dispatched easily,” he said. .

However, CQV has confirmed that it will not use ground surveillance technology.

As part of Victoria’s restarted hotel quarantine system, Victoria Police have taken the lead in security and management to avoid repeating the failures that led to the deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Police have since raised concerns over the depletion of their resources and told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that 25 police stations were temporarily closed to the public at one time due to understaffing.