Right now, thousands of Australians are being quarantined in hotels for a mandatory 14 days, after arriving back from overseas as authorities try to stem the spread of COVID-19.
They are in four and five star accommodation, and yet those who are inside the lockdown are furious at the treatment they’re getting from the government-run operation.
The main criticism is the complete lack of daylight and fresh air.
Many claim they’re being treated like prisoners.
WATCH: Sarah Greig on the Today Show. Post continues after the video.
But Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon had little sympathy for Sarah Greig, and her two sons Jake and Bryce, who are currently cooped up in the Novotel in Brisbane.
“I think the best thing for us right now is for the Australian public to understand that nobody is complaining about the conditions of the hotel. Like, we are in really nice accommodation. Everybody in the hotel is being as friendly as they can possibly be and nobody is whinging whatsoever about the – well, the food’s been fantastic for me. We’ve got fresh clean sheets, we’ve got running water, all of those things are fantastic but we don’t have access to fresh air,” Sarah said on the show this morning.
“On the second day I was here, we got outside twice. The boys got to run outside the hotel, the police took us down and it was amazing. Yesterday, they told us that we can no longer access fresh air. We cannot go outside, we cannot even leave the door of our hotel room, so everything changed as of yesterday. I think what the people in these hotels really just want is a solution to be able to get access to sunlight and fresh air. I don’t think that’s being unreasonable in any way, shape or form,” she added.
But Stefanovic, who alongside his co-host has been covering the terrifying pandemic day in and day out on the show, stood by the strict rules.
"I know it's difficult but the very thing you're asking for is the very thing that our medical experts - and they're very, very smart these people - are saying could expose you or your boys to this virus and we don't know yet who in the hotel may or may not have it. We don't know if someone may potentially spread it even by walking down a corridor or out of your door or down some stairs. You might expose yourself to it, and then it's off and running. I mean, I do sympathise with you, but are you not concerned about that?" he asked Sarah via video-link.
Sarah explained that while she was concerned, she wants to come to a compromise where they wear masks and put distance between each other while being allowed to access the outside world.
"I would wear a garbage bag over my body to be allowed some fresh air," she said.
"I was watching out the window yesterday and there were tons of people walking outside less than a metre from each other. Just because we came from overseas, that makes us different to the people outside. I don't think that's entirely the case," she added, to which Langdon told her "I disagree with you there".
"Majority of the cases we have in Australia are from people overseas bringing it in and we've got to think about the wider good here. Unfortunately, we're in the middle of a global pandemic. This is the price you and the boys unfortunately have to pay which is two weeks in self-isolation but in the grand scheme of things, if this means keeping everyone healthy, is it not a price worth paying?" she asked.
Sarah reiterated that she didn't come on air to whinge about her situation, simply to discuss her desire for a solution to getting some fresh air.
"We're doing our best in the situation," she said. "[But] I am not the only person that feels like this in the hotels."
Feature image: Nine.
To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.
Top Comments
I too would hate no fresh air. But from my experience recently in getting a friend flown out of Argentina (that's a real scary situation for a 22 year old girl) she knew nothing of the circumstances and decisions in Australia. Are the people returning from overseas being properly informed so they better understand why their isolation has to be like this. I'm only hearing media reports, but to me it appears people in mandatory isolation don't have enough information to understand. My friend on her return from Argentina self isolated in a Melbourne hotel of her own accord prior to the mandatory isolation. She comes out this morning.
I probably wouldn’t love it - however I think this is one of those times when you just need to suck it up and remember - it’s only 2 weeks, you are in your home country and you are safe. The government is doing the very best it can to protect us in extremely fast moving circumstances and unfortunately having a window to open in quarantine may not be that high on the list of priorities.
Don’t think of yourself as a victim, think of yourself as a soldier in battle for the good of the country. It’s so important in these times that Australians change their mindset from one of victimhood to one of solidarity.
I think it’s also important the media stop giving so much airtime to the bad side of human nature. I understand brawling over toilet paper, entitled parents and complaining about being in a five star hotels is a great storyline - however it’s time now for the media to step up and play its part in this and give us more stories to help us get through and support each other.
I can guarantee that the lack of opening windows is by design- the last thing they want is someone to throw themselves out a window. That’s why most hotels and offices have sealed windows.
Hotels and offices have sealed windows because it makes the airconditioning more efficient.
Sealed windows are a by-product of HVAC design. Plenty of older hotels and offices have openable windows or open balconies.