Australia is one of the countries that has successfully contained Covid-19, with just 108 deaths in a population of over 25 million people. This is partly due to an early lockdown and partly due to strict mandatory quarantine measures.
Everyone landing from abroad must go into a hotel for 14 days, where they are confined to their room for the duration. A friend of mine outlined the arrival experience at the end of this flight review. People who purchased their flight before midnight on 12 July or earlier are not charged, but after that a single adult is billed AU$3,000 (US$2,085, €1,845, £1,650) to quarantine in Sydney.
Can I Visit My Family? Yes And No
As an Australian citizen, I am permitted to travel to Australia without restriction. That being said, there are no special quarantine exemptions for anyone whatsoever. If you’re coming from abroad, into a hotel you go.
This means that in theory I can head on home, see the family and then head back to Ireland. No problem. However, the trip I booked in February for November is for 16 days. Fat chance that I am going to spend 14 of those locked in a hotel room.
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- When will I see Sydney Harbour again? Who knows!
An alternative here would be to extend my visit, so I do 14 days in quarantine, then stay another couple of weeks after that. This is not an option as I would not have enough annual leave from my work to do it.
This is also impacting other Australians who are living abroad. The Sydney Morning Herald published some of their concerns in an article here, which was quite timely as I was already preparing this one.
Mandatory Quarantine Is Okay, Just Change The Method
Look, I get it. Mandatory quarantine makes sense, and is one reason why Australia has dealt with the pandemic so well. It should remain in place until they sort out air bridges or a fast test on arrival or something like that.
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- If it’s good enough for Ben Richards in The Running Man, it’s good enough for me!
I’d be happy with a home quarantine, as I’d stay at my parents place for 14 days. They can even make me wear an electronic collar that explodes if I leave the house a la The Running Man if they want. Or an ankle tracking bracelet, or whatever. Just don’t make me stay in a hotel!
Overall Thoughts
While I am lucky in that my family are well enough, there are people who might not be so lucky. While the hotel quarantine is working (if you overlook what happened in Melbourne), there should be a clear plan on the next steps. It is not feasible to keep it going long term. Let’s hope there is progress on alternatives sooner rather than later. Either way, if things don’t change, I will be rescheduling my visit.
I shouldn’t complain too much though. Australians are not permitted to leave the country at the moment, so at least I live somewhere where we are permitted to travel (from next week). Things could be a lot worse!
What do you think of mandatory quarantine? Have you experienced it anywhere and how did you find it? Perhaps you have an idea for an alternative? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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The Running Man still via Pinterest.
The reason the quarantine is in a highly controlled, mandatory hotel environment is because people cannot be trusted to quarantine properly themselves. Everyone has an excuse why the rules don’t apply to them and the only way to solve this is to literally lock people up for 14 days.
A new 6 week lockdown was implemented in Melbourne last week due to a recent flare-up and police were busy last weekend patrolling the city and issuing large fines to hundreds of people who chose not to follow the very clear rules.
Oh, I completely understand the reason for the mandatory hotel quarantine. It makes complete sense to do it in this manner for the greater good, as people certainly can’t be trusted. Melbourne is an excellent example of that. That is why I suggested testing on arrival or even some kind of electronic monitoring to make sure you stay put as alternative options. At the moment it seems like it will be a very long time before measures are rescinded and none of us are getting any younger. Thanks for the comment!
I think the concern is that mandatory testing on arrival may help in some cases, but is not a foolproof system to pick everything up. Also isolation at home, by its very name, requires you to isolate in that home. You are not meant to be interacting with others in that home. So 14 days down one end of the house by yourself, ain’t much different to a hotel room… Admittedly cheaper with better food. Finally… while a small risk, would you really want to be the reason you’re parents get sick (or worse). There appears to be very little… Read more »
All of your points are completely valid, and I agree – I also don’t see it changing except with New Zealand and selected Pacific islands. Even then that will only be once Australia gets things fully under control across the entire country, which it hasn’t just yet. I’ll be interested to see how it all pans out. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it.
Cheaper, better food, clean linen, fresh air! Home isolation should be a choice. Tracking bracelets should be an option as used in Hong Kong. I haven’t seen my husband for six months, live alone and have ample space for him to isolate with me. I’m furious that we have no choice.
That must be very difficult. Hopefully things change sometime soon!
Yeah, but testing on arrival isnt fool proof. Hence the requirement for mandatory quarantine. Its also fair at some point to have those in qurantine pay their way.
It seems a fair ask
Oh, I agree that it’s not fool proof, but nothing us. Paying for quarantine though, I don’t think so. Not when other countries are not doing it. It is penalising people more than is needed. Australia is an extremely wealthy country, so it seems a little on the nose to me.
Yeah, I kinda get what youre saying. I guess theyre also a little freaked out after the Melbourne incident, which was beyond ridiculous. 🙂
If it helps you feel better Ive not met my parents since March because I work in essential services, so am out every other day, and they have been working from home since the 5th of March. We just happen to live in different parts of the same city.
That’s understandable! I usually see mine once a year, so there’s that!
If it’s mandatory, there should be options. Australians are working all over the world and will have family they wish to visit. It’s my opinion we need to learn to live with this virus. Let’s start talking about ways to improve health, protect the vulnerable and elderly and open up the borders. Can’t have forever.
It will all happen in time, I’m sure. It’s still very early on, though it feels somewhat longer as we’ve all been at home. Thanks for the comment!
While I understand your annoyance, isolating with family members who can go where they will isn’t really isolation. Given the current knowledge, there’s no other way that’s both practical and not insanely expensive.
You make a very good point there! While my Mum is retired and would happily stay home for the 14 days, my Dad continues to work and it would not be an option for him to take 14 days off. Getting him to take one or two is difficult enough. Thanks for the comment!
In a rare case, the visitor stays at home with family members who go out for work or shopping. The visitor may be affected to COVID-19 before arriving and stays at home till hospitalized, while his/her family members already get affected by the visitor and spread the virus to the public. That is a dangerous loophole for home quarantine.
Yes, I completely agree with you on that. As others have mentioned, quarantine is the best way to ensure things are contained. Thanks for the comment!