Inescapable noise hammers home ‘pain’ of forced quarantine

A GOLD Coast resident says he understands the necessity to go into hotel quaratine to stop a coronavirus outbreak in the city – if he could only get rid of the jack hammer outside his room.

Palm Beach retiree Anthony Fogarty (pictured) has had to cough up $2800 to stay two weeks at the QT Surfers Paradise after returning from a funeral in Melbourne this week.

Mr Fogarty said construction works were ongoing eight hours a day outside the hotel. What’s worse, he can’t leave his room.

“I don’t object to being in quarantine, I don’t object to safety, it is a good and necessary thing,” he said. “What I do object to is the jack hammering that has been going on all week at the pool, yet we are still forced to pay full price for the pleasure.

“The hotel is charging the Queensland Government for accommodation that would be unrentable given the noise.

“It is stressful after the sudden death of my brother plus not being able to leave the room, as well as the looming $2800 I will receive.

“There is no way they would be able to fill a hotel with paying customers with that noise, so why should we put up with it. I feel like we don’t matter. It is doing my head in.”

Mr Fogarty said he was also annoyed that celebrities such as Dannii Minogue had been able to avoid the uniform quarantine procedures and stay in private.

The QT hotel management informed guests that the works would end on Friday and that the refurbishment was “preplanned”.

Those in isolation have the opportunity to apply to waive their quarantine fee, if they face financial hardship.