A South Australian security guard has been sacked after claiming to be from “defence” so they could park at a medi-hotel.
Another was fired when they were found smelling of alcohol while on-duty and another lost their job after posting a video taken at a medi-hotel to social media, according to South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.
They were among five guards sacked while another 94 were suspended from their duties, police records given to a state parliament committee in November and released by the opposition on Sunday have revealed.
One of the sacked security guards was found to be asleep on the floor while supposed to be guarding quarantining travellers at one of the state’s medi-hotels.
They weren’t the only sleepy staffer, with 22 others stood down for napping on the job.
Thirty guards were stood down for using their mobile phones when they were supposed to be working. Another caught using their phone was sacked after becoming “disorderly” when confronted.
There were also 35 guards stood down over breaches relating to PPE.
South Australia recorded no new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, but a returned traveller has tested positive to a highly infectious UK-variant.
There’s also concern over outbreaks in NSW and Victoria. Residents have been advised to reconsider any travel to Victoria in response to a cluster centred in Melbourne’s east.
Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier says extensive contact tracing has been done in Victoria and it’s not necessary to close the border, but she has encouraged people to be flexible with their arrangements.
“I am very hopeful the situation in Victoria will come to an end,” she said on Sunday.
“At the moment I would be saying to South Australians, remain alert, but not alarmed,” Professor Spurrier said.
Two close contacts of the Victorian cases are in quarantine in South Australia, but have tested negative.
Authorities encouraged people to get tested if they had any symptoms and to be alert if they have travelled to Victoria or been with friends and family who visited the state from Victoria.
Anyone who’d been to the coronavirus exposure sites identified by Victoria authorities was told to isolate for 14 days and get tested on day one, five and 12.
The state has imposed a hard border with NSW, allowing only returning residents and those permanently relocating to South Australia to cross – provided they quarantine for 14 days – plus essential travellers.
There is a 100km buffer zone allowing free movement for border communities.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
