Returned travellers released from The Westin in Brisbane City
“Very, very happy” returned travellers have been reunited with their families after they were released from hotel quarantine in Brisbane following the Hotel Grand Chancellor nightmare.
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Elated returned travellers are leaving The Westin in Brisbane City, after they were initially advised they could spend up to 28 days in hotel quarantine as authorities worked to contain the Hotel Grand Chancellor COVID-19 cluster.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young revealed this morning those caught by the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster who have already served a fortnight in quarantine but initially expected to restart their quarantine period would be released today.
Onlookers still inside The Westin clapped from balconies as Paddington grandmother Ali Sherry was reunited with her daughter Sarah Crowley and 17-month-old granddaughter Zara who had returned home from South-Africa.
They will be staying in Brisbane as they work to get Mrs Crowley’s partner a visa to return to Australia.
“Super relived would be the main feeling,” Mrs Sherry said.
“We’re so glad Queensland Health came to their senses.”
Dozens of family members have gather outside The Westin while police facilitate people to leave hotel quarantine one at a time.
As many as 420 people associated with the Hotel Grand Chancellor - including staff, returned travellers and close contacts - are expected to leave quarantine tonight, permitting they met health criteria, a Queensland Health spokesman said.
There were screams and lengthy hugs as the Crooks family were reunited just before 7pm.
Geoff Crooks said he and his wife were “very, very happy” when they received a letter under their door at 4.30pm confirming they would be allowed to leave hotel quarantine tonight.
“It’s been a pretty wild ride emotionally, I’m not really an emotional person but it’s just the ups and downs of the past two or three days,” he said.
“We’re pretty excited I can tell you, our girls are a bit emotional all too.”
Their daughters Jasi and Elyssa Crooks were eagerly waiting outside The Westin to pick up their parents and said they had a party with champagne, a welcome home banner and BBQ waiting at home.
Mr Crooks said he was never upset about the additional quarantine time, only about the conditions of their room at their new accommodation, which did not include a balcony and was smaller than their Hotel Grand Chancellor room.
“I feel for the people who are still in here, and it’s not about the quarantine, it’s never been about that … It’s been about the conditions we’re in, this is a beautiful room but it’s designed for a night,” he said.
“Everybody on this quarantine site hasn’t got a problem with the quarantine, it’s just about making it a bit more comfortable, particularly if they want you to do a double quarantine, don’t put them in a smaller room.
“I don’t get why they’re just not self-contained units, get it right.”
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