Australia quarantines all arriving international passengers in hotels
International passengers touching down in Australia from Sunday will be sequestered in hotels for 14 days.
By Chris C., March 27 2020
The Australian Government will enact mandatory quarantining measures for all passengers arriving into the country from overseas after 11:59pm on Saturday March 28 2020, in a move to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Passengers arriving after this time will be locked down in hotels for 14 days of self-isolation, in a significant escalation of the current process which allows travellers to first return to their homes (or a hotel, if visiting), and then begin their isolation period.
This will take place in their arrival city, not at their final destination, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirms.
“If their home is in South Australia, or Perth, or in Tasmania and they have arrived in Melbourne, they will be quarantining in Melbourne,” says the PM.
“States and territories will be quarantining all arrivals through our airports in hotels and other accommodation facilities for their two weeks of their mandatory self-isolation, before they are able to return to their home,” Morrison confirms.
Who pays for the two weeks of hotel isolation?
The accommodation and food costs incurred as a result of these compulsory self-isolation measures will be covered by each state and territory, which Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews promptly confirmed after the PM's announcement.
To ensure those quarantined do not leave their accommodation, members of the Australian Defence Forces will be called in to assist local authorities in enforcing compliance.
Passengers who’d planned to take an interstate connecting flight following their international arrival will only be able to do so after the isolation period has been completed: however, the traveller’s destination state may enforce its own isolation requirements upon arrival.
Passengers merely travelling interstate – without having arrived from overseas – won’t need to remain in monitored isolation at hotels, but still need to observe mandatory self-isolation requirements at home if required in their arriving state.
Currently, passengers arriving into Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia from interstate must self-isolate at home for 14 days.
Those arriving from overseas prior to 11:59pm on March 28 2020 will still be required to self-isolate at home, as per current regulations.
Also read: Which international airlines still fly to, and from, Australia?
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
30 Mar 2014
Total posts 20
So you could potentially have to go through 14 days in quarantine at your city of arrival AND a further 14 days if you then have to travel interstate to get home? Someone needs to fix that......
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 187
Nah, I'm happy for people to have to do 28 days. Less chance I have to look after someone - trust me I'm not great with a ventilator....
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1002
More cost to the tax payers for people not doing the right thing, just like those people complaining about the government not rescuing them from cruise ships AFTER the government told them not go because they can't guarantee they can get them home.
18 Aug 2015
Total posts 55
How good is that? A holiday in Bali and now two weeks at a premo hotel with all good costs. Makes me want to fly OS for a weekend and come back on holiday
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
Hey why even bother any epidemiologist would tell you there should have been quarantine for at leas the past 2 months, even the past months -this term Self isolation was a joke - where are the dewfence forces enforcing isolation ???? just look at Israel Switzerland et al Funnily enough Ive cancelled my trip to Israel and Switzerland with a daytrip shopping in Milano/Lombardia 2 weeks ago Ch has 5 cases now its 11811 with 192 deaths DFAT had it as Green SAFE TRAVEL as an example
Where is our Jacinda Ardern??
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
Why are airlines even flying into/outof Australia -or even allowing transit? This is obviously called SYD airport
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
When are you non-medical people going to get it????? When there are mass casualties and no respirators available for you when you are in an induced coma? So your care provider has to make a decision who gets the coma/respirator and who doesnt and dies? The propoganda this is a mild flu? Shazza Kezza frying their lard at Bondi with the UK ers accessing out Centrelink? this is La Bella Italia all over again! Everyone in for the Grand Prix which never happened allowing more infections A WHO says 1 infected person will probaly infect indirectly 10000 people - we medical staff dont have enough correct PPE , law enforcement who arent exposed directly running around in the N95/P2 masks which should be for health care workers, the governmental denial of OBVIOUS community aerosol transmission Wow this is going to be a great cull!
29 Jan 2015
Total posts 41
Acfuly N95 level of mask protects others cro. You if you have the virus. N100 grade mask is apparently the level needed to offer you some protection.
Of course any mask may be better than nothing. Not sure why health providers the world over seem to have gotten caught without a stock of them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 187
Funny we muses came up with ‘oh well some people won't need to worry about the housing market'
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jul 2015
Total posts 276
Aren't hotels built like cruise ships where the Aircon is shared? How is still going to help stop the spread exactly?
29 Jan 2015
Total posts 41
Depends on the hotel. I personally really hate hotels where you can't open your room window.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 115
Isn't that what was tried on cruise ships - stay in your room and we'll leave food outside your door? That worked really well, didn't it. Looks to me that these quarantine hotels are just going to be cruise ships on dry land. Can't help thinking that if I make it to Australa (Australian citizen, now in Canada) in May, I will arrive healthy (having been in voluntary self-isolation since 21 March) and leave the hotel ill.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
17 Jun 2019
Total posts 2
Is the Darwin-London flight continuing beyond the Singapore closure (Coronavirus crisis)?
15 May 2020
Total posts 41
Hi
Can someone please help me if they know. I will be returning to Australia next week. I have food allergies and I was wondering whether you are allowed to have Woolworths or Coles deliver groceries to my hotel room?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 187
If its NSW you are returning too, the following is on their Dept of Health webpage.
Meals in hotel quarantine
Food will be provided for you at the quarantine facility. Any dietary requirements should be discussed when you arrive. You can also order takeaway meals once a day from outside the hotel. Should you choose to use additional food services this cost will be incurred by you.
15 May 2020
Total posts 41
Thank you. It says ‘food services’ so is that Woolies and Coles included or just Uber ? I read somewhere they were not allowing it for Woolies etc. Hope to clarify. Thanks
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