Returned travellers to be let out of quarantine hotels on compassionate grounds

Returned travellers in Victoria’s restarted hotel quarantine system will be allowed to leave their rooms on compassionate grounds.

Under Victoria’s rebooted hotel quarantine system, some guests will be allowed to leave their rooms on compassionate grounds when the program ­resumes from Thursday.

COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria has confirmed that the program will continue to grant some returned travellers special exemptions to leave their facilities for short periods of time.

This could include compassionate grounds such as visiting a dying relative or attending a funeral.

The practice has been allowed in the program before and is permitted in other states but comes as Victorians nervously await the return of travellers from other countries af more than a month without any outbreaks.

A CQV spokesman said travellers could only apply for temporary leave in a very limited number of situations.

“These applications are considered on a case-by-case basis with strict infection prevention and control measures, including a requirement that the resident has tested negative to a COVID-19 test,” he said.

“If approved, the resident is always under supervision from a CQV staff member, must wear full PPE, physically distance and adhere to any other measures in place at the location or as determined by chief health officer directions.

“The program has continued to support more than 4100 residents since February 14, including freight crew, maritime workers, community members, interstate residents, frontline workers and returned overseas travellers who have gained an exemption for compassionate or medical reasons.”