A leading Australian epidemiologist has ruled the decision to grant exemptions from hotel quarantine to some celebrities as “totally unacceptable”.
Important points:
- Hotel quarantine exemptions have been granted to individuals such as diplomats, flight crews, and even Hollywood celebrities
- However, a leading epidemiologist argues that private quarantine poses an equally great health risk
- There are also calls for more transparency with regard to the exception procedure
The murky process of exemptions from Australia’s strict 14-day quarantine program came back into the spotlight this week.
It was reported that high profile individuals like Matt Damon and Miranda Kerr had been given permission to skip state hotel quarantine and instead isolate in private luxury residences of their choice.
Some experts and politicians have called it double standards, as returning Australians (or anyone else entering the country) must spend the two weeks at their own expense in a guarded room in a designated quarantine hotel, which some guests do described as less than glamorous.
“I can’t understand how the Australian, generally egalitarian, community thinks that’s okay,” said Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, epidemiologist and WHO adviser.
“Especially if you had a family member who had to be quarantined, or if you were quarantined yourself. This is completely unacceptable in terms of looks, but also in terms of infection control and compliance.”
Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws says people like celebrities who have been granted hotel quarantine exemptions pose the same risk as any other international arrival. (ABC News)
In response to questions from 7.30 a.m., the Federal Minister of Health said that quarantine exemptions were a matter for the states and territories.
New South Wales and Queensland authorities said exemptions were only granted if the alternative met the same standards as quarantine hotels.
Occupations with quarantine exemptions
During the pandemic, it was quarantined run from state to statewith each state or territory responsible for administering the quarantine program – and making decisions about who is tax exempt.
Certain professions are exempted from the mandatory hotel quarantine and can spend their 14-day isolation at home or in another approved location.
This includes international pilots and cabin crew residing in Australia, DFAT employees, foreign diplomats, government officials, and offshore oil and gas workers.
Exceptions can, however, also be made at the discretion of the authorities – either the state government or the police, depending on the jurisdiction.
And there it gets a little cloudy.
Reasons for exceptions
Most states cite health or compassionate reasons as the main reasons for granting exemptions.
For example the It says on the NSW Health website::
“Exemptions from hotel quarantine are rarely granted. Exemptions are only considered if there are strong medical, health, or compassionate reasons, or if the person is moving from NSW to an international destination.”
However, in recent months there have been numerous cases where high profile individuals such as business executives and celebrities have been granted exemptions for reasons that have not been specified or explained to the public.
Actor Matt Damon received hotel quarantine release and performed his 13 days of isolation in a private NSW residence with his family after arriving in Australia to direct his next film. (Reuters: Fred Thornhill)
Last September, Dr. Jeannette Young, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, asked about exemptions granted to movie star Tom Hanks when crossing the closed state line.
She responded by stating that individuals had been exempted from entertainment and movies because they brought “a lot of money” into the state.
The NSW police answered questions from 7:30 a.m. on exceptions in a statement at 7:30 a.m.:
“According to the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Quarantine) Regulation (No. 2) 2020, a person can submit a proposal to acquire an independent site to be nominated as a quarantine facility.
“These locations must meet the same standards as NSW police-managed hotels. Therefore, the person must meet the same obligations as any returning traveler.”
More transparency needed behind the process
The President of the Australian Medical Association, WA, Dr. Andrew Miller said there should be more transparency about the process of determining exceptions for celebrities.
“The exceptions that are provided seem like a kind of black box to us. We don’t get a lot of information about the criteria applied and it’s a bit of a judgment,” Miller said at 7:30 am.
Andrew Miller says when it comes to quarantine, “It shouldn’t matter if you’re Matt Damon or Joe Bloggs or Jane Bloggs.” (ABC News: Phil Hemingway)
Dr. Miller had been a critic of the Australian hotel quarantine, which he believed was no longer functional and did not provide adequate ventilation to stop airborne transmission of the virus.
He advocated that celebrities like Damon could be quarantined in private homes – as long as the same privilege was granted to other people.
“There is clearly a rule for the rich and a rule for the poor,” said Dr. Miller.
“It shouldn’t matter whether you’re Matt Damon or Joe Bloggs or Jane Bloggs, you should have the option to quarantine yourself in a location that’s convenient for you.”
Dr. Miller believes that more people should be quarantined at home with electronic devices like phone apps and tracking wristbands to make sure they meet the requirements. Similar technologies are used in Hong Kong and South Korea, for example.
“The most important risk is behavior and compliance”
Publicly available FOI documents Provide a glimpse into the approval process for pop singer Dannii Minogue and her son, who were allowed to complete their 14-day quarantine at a private Gold Coast estate instead of government-run quarantine hotels last year
While the reasons for the exemption are not apparent in the edited document, Dr. Jeannette Young, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, said she was satisfied that the proposed site met quarantine requirements and that “there are adequate safeguards in place to minimize the risk of a possible quarantine violation to the community.” “.
In the emails, Dr. Young: “Please note that future customers who come to Queensland and wish to conduct a monitored quarantine will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
In a statement, Queensland Health said it had tightened quarantine requirements in recent months due to rising case numbers around the world and new, contagious strains of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Professor McLaws said celebrities were at the same risk as other international arrivals despite the precautions that might be taken with private quarantine homes.
“The main risk is the behavior and compliance by the celebrity,” she said.
“Secondly [is] the risk to the people they employ who may not have a high level of training on how to keep themselves risk free so that they do not pose a risk to the general community. “
