This was published 5 years ago
Staff stood down at Villawood Detention Centre due to COVID-19 concerns
An unconfirmed number of staff members at Villawood Detention Centre have been stood down to self-isolate after recently attending a function at the Crossroads Hotel.
The Australian Border Force confirmed that staff employed at Villawood had recently been to the Crossroads Hotel, and are following advice from NSW Health and all are currently self-quarantining.
Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, claimed up to 30 Serco guards were self-isolating after the exposure.
Serco has not confirmed how many of its staff are self-isolating after they were identified by NSW Health contact tracers.
Sydney's Crossroads Hotel coronavirus cluster has now increased to 21 cases, including 10 staff members and patrons and 11 of their close contacts.
On Friday evening, two people, who visited the venue on July 3, tested positive for COVID-19.
More testing clinics will be opened for pubgoers after people waited in their cars for more than four hours to be tested on Monday.
"We are again calling for Border Force to act immediately to release all detainees. Immigration detainees cannot be safely held in the detention centres and prison-hotels," Mr Rintoul said in a statement on Monday.
"Seven years ago they risked their lives to get to safety. Instead of safety, the government is still playing with their lives."
Mr Rintoul said there had been no announcement at the Villawood Detention Centre and no arrangement for detainees to get tested despite being potentially exposed - and guards are not allowed to bring in face masks or hand sanitiser.
Border Force also confirmed that 12 people have tested negative to the virus after visiting the Crossroads Hotel before travelling to the RAAF base in Wagga Wagga.
They will remain in self-isolation until the end of next week.
Earlier today, Home Affairs confirmed that a staff member at Melbourne's Mantra Hotel, which is housing around 60 asylum seekers, has tested positive to COVID-19.
Serco has been contacted for comment.
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Matt Bungard is a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
Rachel Eddie is a Victorian state political reporter for The Age. Contact her at rachel.eddie@theage.com.au, rachel.eddie@protonmail.com, or via Signal at @RachelEddie.99Connect via X or email.