Coronavirus: SA Health now South Australia’s biggest hotel customer as more stranded expatriates due to arrive in Adelaide
SA Health is now the state’s biggest hotel customer, new figures show, as dozens more expatriates prepare to fly home.
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SA Health is the state’s biggest hotel customer during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show, as dozens more expatriates prepare to fly home under an expanded quarantine program.
Public health authorities will manage three international airlines with up to 600 passengers this week after they land at Adelaide Airport from Doha and Singapore.
The State Government has agreed to lift its international arrival cap to help thousands of Australians stranded overseas come home after National cabinet recently authorised the travel boost.
As a result, SA Health will this week allow an increase in international passengers – from a 60 person cap up to 240 people on commercial flights to 150 travellers per trip to a maxiumum 600 every seven days.
The approval was made as health officials on Friday signed a contract for an eighth police guarded “medi-hotel”, which will expand the state’s quarantine program to 800 rooms.
The government refused to name the CBD-based facility because of “confidentiality”.
Officials said it SA Health “is now the biggest user of hotel beds in South Australia, helping an industry that has suffered huge losses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said airlines can more than double their capacity in support of stranded expatriates.
“South Australia is proud to play its part of the national repatriation mission in bringing Australians home,” he said.
“This cap increase allows airlines to open up more economy class seats for passengers booking flights back to Adelaide.
“The cost and availability of seats have been a huge barrier to many Australians wanting to return home and I’m pleased we’re beginning to break those barriers down.”
Under emergency management rules, all international travellers must quarantine in a hotel for a fortnight and undertake mandatory COVID-19 tests on their first and 12th days in isolation.
Other quarantine hotels under police guard include the Pullman, Hindmarsh Square; Peppers, Waymouth Street; Playford, North Terrace; Rockford and Grand Chancellor, both in Hindley Street; IBIS in Grenfell Street as well as Mount Gambier’s Southgate Motel.
A group of Aussie cricketers returning from Britain are also quarantining at the new Adelaide Oval hotel.
While no new cases were announced on Saturday, an infectious couple from India are recovering from coronavirus in the Pullman hotel.
They are the state’s only “active” cases.
State Control Centre commander Paul McGowen said his staff worked tirelessly to maintain hotel quarantine safety through “highly detailed” plans.
Until July taxpayers paid more than $3.5 million to fund the program before a user pays system was introduced.
The Sunday Mail last week revealed figures show 63 breaches occurred since it launched in late April.
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