‘Totally unpleasant’: Greek on Halifax chef on mass staff transfer to hotel quarantine

·

Staff at one of South Australia’s biggest ‘super-spreader’ sites were recently moved to hotel quarantine for their final week of quarantine. 

Joseph Vaccaro is a chef at the Greek on Halifax and says he was a week into his isolation period at home when he was contacted by SA Health on Monday.

“We were more than happy to do everything required from our own home, which is exactly what we were doing,” Mr Vaccaro tells Adelaide Now

He was told he would be transferred to medi-hotel, the Pullman Hotel, despite testing negative for COVID-19. 

“It was awkward, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Now it is totally unpleasant.”

A cleaner deep cleans the Greek on Halifax (Left: ABC News/Michael Clements) (Right: Picture by Emma Brasier)

Mr. Vaccaro worked in the kitchen at the Greek on Halifax on the night of July 17 when a positive case of COVID-19 visited the restaurant. 

A staff member later tested positive. 

Mr. Vaccaro describes SA Health’s move as an “absolute over-reaction” and a “complete farce” and says conditions inside the hotel are poor. 

““I’ve been locked in this airtight room since Monday.”

He tells Adelaide Now that the kettle in his room was also replaced multiple times after it tripped the power.

He says the situation has also stressed his mother, who has Parkinsons and for whom he provides care.

About 100 people were moved to medi-hotels on the basis that they had been at high-risk “super spreader” sites. 

Source: Adelaide Now

Do you have a similar community story? Email us at: greek@foreignlanguage.com.au

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

The Greek Herald’s Publisher Dimitra Skalkos meets with Archbishop Makarios

On Monday, December 22, Archbishop Makarios of Australia received the Publisher of the newspaper The Greek Herald, Ms Dimitra Skalkos.

Greece, Israel and Cyprus reaffirm strategic partnership at Jerusalem summit

Greece, Israel and Cyprus have reaffirmed their strategic partnership following a trilateral summit in Jerusalem.

Children lead celebrations as NSW Sunday Schools mark 70th anniversary

Saint Spyridon College in Maroubra hosted the 70th anniversary of Sunday Schools in New South Wales on Sunday, December 14.

Stamatopoulos family’s Greek Christmas with Pontian lyra in summer heat

Step inside the Stamatopoulos home on Christmas Day and the heat outside evaporates. Around the table sit yiayia Ioanna Eleftheriadis.

Honouring the past, creating the new: The evolution of a Greek Australian Christmas

As the days grow warmer and longer, most Australians enter the season of Mariah Carey, crowded shopping centres, and gingerbread.

You May Also Like

From child refugee to maths teacher at Melbourne High School for 50 years

Saki George Ganella OAM tells The Greek Herald that his journey from war ravaged Greece to Melbourne Boys High School was "meant to be."

Lesbos fire damages Greek island refugee centre as tensions remain high

A fire broke out at a refugee center on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece’s firefighting service said Sunday, causing considerable damage to a warehouse but no injuries.

NSW politician urges government to expand education curriculum to include Greek genocide

Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr MP, has urged the NSW Government to expand education curriculum to include Greek genocide.