Australia COVID-19 quarantine blood-testing blunder prompts calls for hundreds to take HIV test

More than 200 former residents of COVID-19 quarantine facilities in Australia are being urged to test for blood-transmitted diseases, including HIV, after authorities admitted they used the same blood-testing devices for multiple guests.

It's the latest in a series of COVID-19 setbacks to hit the country and the state of Victoria in particular.

Earlier breaches at Victoria quarantine hotels led to a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne, prompting the country's second-biggest city to spend months under strict lockdown.

In a statement, Victorian health agency, Safer Care Victoria, said it was contacting 243 people who had a blood glucose level test before August 20th as there was a risk of cross-contamination and blood-borne viruses, including HIV.

More than 200 former residents of coronavirus quarantine facilities in Australia are being urged to test for blood-transmitted diseases, including HIV, after authorities admitted they used the same blood-testing devices for multiple guests. https://t.co/F1Ho4M8qog

— CNN (@CNN) October 20, 2020

Safer Care Victoria said in a statement "The clinical risk of infection is low. However, for reassurance, access to confidential testing will be arranged"

Victoria has reported more than 20,000 coronavirus cases, including over 800 deaths, making it the COVID-19 hotspot of Australia.

The country has reported more than 27,400 cases and at least 905 deaths in total, according to Johns Hopkins University.

[Source: CNN]