‘Absolutely ecstatic’: Adelaide arrivals pumped to leave quarantine
A MAN who has been living in pain while waiting to undergo surgery in the Howard Springs quarantine facility says he’s overjoyed to be able to get out today
Northern Territory
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A MAN who has been living in pain while waiting to undergo surgery in the Howard Springs quarantine facility says he’s overjoyed to finally get released today.
David Parker arrived in Darwin on a flight from Adelaide via Brisbane on Tuesday and was sent straight into the Howard Springs facility.
The 54-year-old, who is moving to the NT for work, said the last four days in the facility had been “very painful” due to his injured foot.
Mr Parker is set to be released from quarantine today after the Heath Minister Natasha Fyles made a shock announcement on Friday that Greater Adelaide’s hot spot status would be revoked at 9am on Saturday.
“I was absolutely ecstatic when I found out — I can’t wait to head out and get to the hospital,” he said.
Mr Parker said his foot had recently become infected after he stood on a piece of ceramic which became lodged in the ball of his foot.
“I can barely walk at all and I’m in absolutely agony,” Mr Parker said.
“I was told I need surgery to fix it but the staff in quarantine aren’t equipped for that. I’ll need to go to Royal Darwin Hospital. They seem reluctant to send me earlier because I’m in quarantine.”
A Top End Health spokesman said Mr Parker’s injury had been assessed as not serious enough to need urgent surgery while in quarantine.
“I was told it would be s a logistic nightmare and in the meantime staff can only give me Panamax for the pain,” Mr Parker said.
“I would have gone to the Lyell McEwin Hospital while I was down in South Australia but the outbreak happened and I didn’t want to risk it.”
The first confirmed case in the SA cluster was at Lyell McEwin Hospital on Saturday, where 90 people have now been quarantined.
Originally published as ‘Absolutely ecstatic’: Adelaide arrivals pumped to leave quarantine
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