Covid-19: isolate in luxury under the watchful eye of caring hotel staff
Mixed feelings from staff as insurance subsidises some quarantine accommodation
Room service, luxury accommodation, uncapped wifi and Netflix. It could be the “suite life” if guests weren’t fighting a deadly virus.
Quarantine hotels are operational throughout the country as more South Africans, who have tested positive for Covid19, are opting to isolate away from home.
Government has been footing the bill for some, others have been paying from their own pockets, while Discovery Medical Aid Scheme is paying a portion of accommodation fees for its members.
The scheme pays up to R400 per member per night at a designated hotel.
To date, Discovery has paid for 178 members to stay at hotels in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
“Given the significant risk of Covid-19 patients infecting family members, the benefit aim is to prevent further infections in households by helping members with Covid-19 to isolate in a safe environment away from home, and to support individuals who may not have the help they need at home,” said Discovery CCO Ron Whelan.
Nicole Ludicks, from Goodwood in Cape Town, isolated at The Hyde Hotel in Sea Point.
She and her husband tested positive on July 4 and shared a room at the hotel until the end of their stay a week ago.
“Discovery paid R400 per member. The daily rate was R850 per person. The rules were simple. We could not leave our suite. Meals were brought to us. We had red boxes in our unit to dispose of everything we needed to. The nurse came to our door two to three times a day. She did our vitals and also gave us medication if needed,” she said.
Since opening its doors to guests infected with Covid-19 on June 1, The Hyde Hotel has accommodated 23 guests.
Victor Chiwaridzo, who works at the front desk, had mixed feelings when the hotel decided to serve as a quarantine hotel. “I was afraid and happy at the same. I was afraid that the disease would be close to me, but happy that I could continue doing my job. But now I am no longer afraid. We have strict health and safety protocols in place to keep us safe.
“I also make it my duty to treat every guest as a guest. I don’t see them as guests with Covid-19. Some of them have already been affected by the stigma attached to this virus. When they arrive, I am here to give them a warm welcome.”
The Capital Hotels and Apartments’ properties have accommodated 350 guests as the number of positive cases increases daily.
“The Capital Empire in Sandton is, at present, the only ‘Get Well Hotel’ [in the group] for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and want to rest and recover while they isolate themselves from their families.
“The daily rate at The Capital Empire for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 ... is R1,350 per day, including three healthy, balanced meals and refreshments. Discovery has subsidised this cost for its members, meaning that Discovery members pay R950 per day,” said manager Marc Wachsberger.
The Capital Empire general manager Amy Hart said she didn’t think of herself as a frontline worker.
“I am here in a hospitality capacity. Yes, I have learnt a lot of medical terminology, but it’s nothing complicated as no one here has experienced anything severe. I try to meet guests on arrival and we calm them down, as many are emotional and scared. We try to explain to them that they will leave here happy and healthy, and that has been the case every time.”
Public works and infrastructure departmental spokesperson Thamsanqa Mchunu said 236 privately owned and 195 state-owned sites have been confirmed as compliant by the department of health. “All quarantine sites have a contract with government departments. If a person is sent to a quarantine site, government pays the contracted rate, even for a private hotel, as long as that is agreed to in the contract.”
The amounts government pays per patient are “agreed rates when the contracting happens”. In response to claims that only a third of quarantine hotels were being used, Mchunu said: “Sites are only activated or only take in guests when required, depending on the number of people who need to be quarantined and the location. Therefore, there will be times when sites are not used.”