Travellers given wrong COVID quarantine direction at Adelaide Airport

After a frustrating few days, an Adelaide couple who were ordered by airport authorities to quarantine for 14 days have now been told actually, that information was wrong.

Travellers line up outside Adelaide Airport to get tested for COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

An Adelaide couple who returned home on Sunday and were ordered by airport authorities to quarantine for 14 days has now been told that direction was wrong.

Peter and June Brown spent two hours in Tullamarine Airport’s Terminal 3 on February 3, en route to Sydney and then Norfolk Island.

They returned to Adelaide on Sunday, flying direct from Sydney, and were shocked to be told at the airport they needed to head home and quarantine for 14 days.

Mr Brown, of Fulham Gardens, said wanting to make sure they complied with SA’s COVID rules, the couple had researched what they would be required to do before returning home.

The SA Police website states that “people who entered the Tullamarine Airport, other than Terminal 4, on or since 7 February 2021 must immediately receive a COVID-19 test and wear a mask when they have contact with the public and quarantine until they receive a negative test result”.

“We were more than happy to follow this direction, even though we were at the airport several days before it came into play, but were surprised when told we would need to quarantine for 14 days, starting from Sunday,” Mr Brown said.

“It didn’t make sense to us, as when we would come out of quarantine it would have been 24 days since we were in Melbourne Airport.”

Recently arrived passengers at Adelaide Airport. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Mr Brown said when they tried to query the rule at the airport, they were bluntly told “bad luck, you’re up for 14-days quarantine”.

He said other passengers were in a similar situation, with several visibly upset at what they were being ordered to do.

“It was clear that these passengers, like us, would have made arrangements prior to returning home, if they had known they would have to quarantine for 14 days.

The Browns spent the next day contacting SAPOL and SA Health to get clarity on their quarantine requirement.

“Every time we spoke to someone different, the rules seemed to slightly change,” Mr Brown said.

“We couldn’t work out why others who were in our travelling party were told they only had to quarantine until they received a negative result from a COVID test but we were being told to quarantine for 14 days and have three COVID tests.”

The COVID-19 testing site, at Adelaide Airport Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

They eventually contacted their local MP, Matt Cowdrey’s, office who referred their situation to the premier’s office.

Within three hours, the Browns received an email from the premier’s office, stating they were not required to quarantine for 14 days.

“We’re very happy to comply with the rules but would like some consistency with how they are interpreted,” Mr Brown said.

SA Health on Sunday evening issued a statement acknowledging that “directions are complex and decisions on testing and quarantine requirements are made with the best available information at the time”.

“We contacted six people this afternoon to provide clarity around their requirements upon entering South Australia,” it read.

“SA Health and SAPOL are working to contact other individuals directly.”

The statement said if anyone felt they had been incorrectly directed into quarantine, they should call Health Exemptions on 1800 253 787 for a review of their circumstances.