Monash Health has 77 staff in isolation but Victoria refuses to release Covid-19 cases among health workers

Exclusive: Doctors and nurses say the number of healthcare workers in isolation may limit capacity to deal with surge in infections

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The Victorian government has refused to answer questions about hospital surge capacity or the number of healthcare workers and medical institutions coping with outbreaks of Covid-19, as 77 staff at one health institution alone have been forced into precautionary quarantine after being exposed to the virus.

An email from the chief executive of Victoria's largest public health service, Monash Health, said 77 staff across the service were in precautionary quarantine following three potential sources of exposure. Meanwhile infections have been found in five employees. Monash Health services one quarter of the state.