New Adelaide CBD hotel Tom’s Court Hotel chosen as dedicated facility for COVID-19 patients

A CBD hotel will be set aside for all coronavirus patients in SA – as the state records four new cases.

Adelaide’s newest hotel will become a dedicated health facility for international travellers who test positive to COVID-19 while in quarantine in medi-hotels.

It comes as SA records four new COVID cases, which were all acquired overseas.

The cases are a woman in her 20s, two women in their 30s and a child who recently returned from overseas and have been in a medi-hotel since their arrival.

SA has now had 580 cases in total. There are 11 active cases.

Tom’s Court Hotel – which opened on King William Street just last month – has been selected to house patients while they recover from the virus.

Modern airconditioning was crucial to SA Health’s bid to establish the facility at the hotel, between Carrington and Halifax streets.

The 14-level hotel has 72 rooms, including family and balcony rooms with opening windows, which also played a role in SA Health’s choice. Its location near the Royal Adelaide Hospital was also a factor.

Tom’s Court Hotel on King William Street will become SA’s quarantine hotel for all covid patients. Picture: Dean Martin

Acting Health Minister Rob Lucas said all new positive COVID-19 cases would be transferred to the facility when it starts operating from February.

It is part of a six-month deal between the State Government and hotel management, with an option to extend.

“Following a comprehensive selection process, involving the state’s pre-eminent public health officials and SAPOL, Tom’s Court Hotel has been chosen as our stand-alone, dedicated COVID-19-positive medi-hotel,” Mr Lucas said

“Tom’s Court is a brand-new, 72-bed facility that includes four rooms with apartment-style facilities suitable to accommodate families and two purpose-built disability suites. Many of the rooms have balconies and opening windows, which can provide fresh air to the rooms. The central location also allows for a rapid transfer to the Royal Adelaide Hospital should it be required.”

Some modifications to the hotel’s heating, ventilation and airconditioning system are underway to enable it to meet SA Health’s stringent requirements as a medi-hotel.

Extra CCTV cameras also have to be installed for the site, which will be patrolled by police and protective services officers – rather than private security contractors – as well as SA Health officers.

Mr Lucas said the modifications would be finalised “as soon as possible” and the facility would be ready to open in the first week of February.

Until then, two floors of the Pullman Hotel in Hindmarsh Square will remain as the dedicated COVID-19 facility.

More than 8000 people have quarantined in South Australia’s medi-hotels so far.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said a rural or remote site was not practical due to the need for access to health services and the risk to Aboriginal communities.

Originally published as New Adelaide CBD hotel Tom’s Court Hotel chosen as dedicated facility for COVID-19 patients