Treated with care in our hotel isolation

THE Tasmanian requirements for selfisolation in government-provided accommodation dated April 2 said, “you must stay within your room” and “you will not be able to have visitors”. Fortunately when we arrived at Hobart Airport on April 23 we were treated with courtesy and respect by all personnel involved in our transfer to and check-in at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. We had not been overseas or on a cruise ship. We had been at home in central Queensland following state of emergency directions.

We were not tested on arrival. Soon after we arrived at the hotel we were informed a large ballroom would be available for exercise with social distancing rules and we had access to a deck on the mezzanine floor for a dose of fresh air and sunshine between 7am and 11pm.

Visitors were able to speak to hotel ‘guests’ on the deck from the driveway. We were able to say hello to our young grandsons. Red Cross volunteers called each day and received valuable feedback. We expressed our view that people over 60 would be safer at home. All these benefits greatly reduced our stress and anxiety.

My concern is that others in Tasmania and around Australia did not have access to adequate exercise space, sunlight and fresh air because they were confined to their rooms with a heavy security presence. Are the conditions under which some were held and may still be held a violation of human rights?

Joanne Marsh

Bellerive