Hotels, checkpoints reduce ‘thin blue line’

POLICE are scrambling to cover thousands of people quarantining in Queensland hotels, and even looked at hiring private security guards before the idea was quashed in the wake of Melbourne’s coronavirus disaster.

It is understood so many Queensland police officers are being used to man borders and monitor quarantine hotels that detectives who investigate organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs are being pulled away from their work.

Queensland Health confirmed as of yesterday, 1593 hotel rooms around Queensland were being used to quarantine returned travellers.

About 4600 people are subject to active quarantine orders, with the vast majority in hotel rooms.

It is understood a small number of security guards were ready to be deployed at Queensland hotels this week before the plan was knocked on the head as coronavirus cases skyrocket in Victoria, largely as a result of lax security involving private contractors at hotels.

The QPS had earlier informally agreed with the Chief Health Officer that no private security guards would be used to monitor returned travellers in quarantine.

The failed management of Victoria’s quarantine hotels has been labelled a scandal.