Covid Qld: Pictures reveal Premier and Mayor’s quarantine life

The first pictures have emerged of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner as they gain first-hand perspective of what it’s like to be cooped up in quarantine.

The first pictures have emerged of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk has revealed that in between running the state remotely, she’s doing yoga to stay in shape and keeping an eye on the Olympics, while Cr Schrinner says he’s missing his family ‘like crazy’.

The Premier and Lord Mayor began two weeks of quarantine at luxury CBD hotel the Westin last Sunday after arriving back home from Tokyo where they secured Queensland the 2032 Olympics.

The Courier-Mail has obtained selfies of the pair isolating in their rooms as the latest of more than 200,000 people put into quarantine in Queensland since the pandemic began.

Four days into their 14-day stretch, they say the experience is giving them a first-hand perspective of what it’s like to be cooped up in quarantine like so many others.

The first pictures have emerged of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was chairing daily Covid meetings and was in constant contact with government ministers and stakeholders to execute the state’s economic recovery plan.

“It’s been a busy few days. With plenty of teleconferences and time on the phone I’ve managed to get a lot done,” she said.

“I’ve gained an even greater appreciation for the work of staff and police at our quarantine hotels. I can’t thank them enough for all they do to keep Queenslanders safe.

“These hotels are our frontline in the fight against the pandemic and experiencing the system first hand has been helpful.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she was missing her nieces in Winton and her dog Winton but was FaceTiming them and doing yoga ‘when I can’.

“In quiet times I’m distracting myself by keeping an eye on the Olympics. Great to see plenty of Queenslanders on the podium so far,” she said.

Cr Schrinner said he was missing wife Nina and children Octavia, Wolfgang, Monash and Petra ‘like crazy’ as he continued to work while stuck in his hotel room.

“I’ve been staying in touch with them via FaceTime every day but it’s just not the same as being able to give them all a hug in person,” he said.

“But) I know it was important that the Premier and I followed the health advice to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days, just like everybody else, after our recent mission to Tokyo to secure the Brisbane 2032 Games.

“I want to sincerely thank the hotel staff and the health workers, as well as the Police and Defence Force personnel who manage quarantine facilities like the one I’m in. They’ve been wonderful.”

The first pictures have emerged of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in hotel quarantine.

Cr Schrinner said he was continuing to run Brisbane from his hotel desk, conducting Civic Cabinet meetings virtually and appointing Deputy Mayor Krista Adams to a new role of 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games chair.

“I’ve also been progressing with our plans to turn the temporary International Broadcast Centre at South Brisbane, which is needed for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and part of the deal, into a new multipurpose parkland so it can be an amazing legacy asset for our city in the future – just like South Bank was after Expo ‘88,” he said.

Authorities have rejected reports that Ms Palaszczuk is quarantined in a luxury three-bedroom suite, saying her room is ‘modest’.