Hunter Covid: Hamilton’s Tudor Inn now housing close contacts as they wait out isolation period

Close contacts to positive cases with nowhere else to isolate are being housed in the budget hotel in Newcastle. A second one is planned near Maitland.

Health authorities have set up a makeshift quarantine hub at a budget Hamilton hotel to house Covid-19 close contacts who have nowhere else to go while they isolate.

The Tudor Inn was surrounded by police tape and health workers, some in PPE coveralls, again on Monday, with an unknown number of people quarantined inside as they either await a negative test or wait out their isolation periods.

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Authorities are working behind police tape at the Tudor Inn at Hamilton, which is housing close contacts of positive patients with nowhere to isolate. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Hunter New England Health Covid-19 response head Elizabeth Grist confirmed “isolation facilities” had been established “in areas of need across the Hunter New England Health District’’.

A quarantine facility has been set up under strict security at the Tudor Inn at Hamilton. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Ms Grist also confirmed other hubs were holding Covid positive patients who did not need hospital care. It is not believed the Tudor Inn is one of the those facilities.

A quarantine facility has been set up under strict security at the Tudor Inn at Hamilton. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

“These facilities are available for people who are close contacts of confirmed Covid cases but cannot isolate safely at home,’’ Ms Grist said in a statement.

A quarantine facility has been set up under strict security at the Tudor Inn at Hamilton. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

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“We also have available specific accommodation for confirmed Covid cases where they can isolate safely and have daily nursing assessments, and medical assessments if required. If these people require a higher level of care, they will be cared for in the hospital setting.

“These facilities pose no risk for the community and are there to assist people to safely isolate and complete their isolation period, and to also protect the community.’’

It is understood a hotel in Thornton was also being prepared to host close contacts in similar predicaments within the Maitland area.