Daughter in hotel quarantine may get second chance to say goodbye to dying mum but fears it will be too late

A heartbroken daughter stuck in hotel quarantine may soon get a second chance to say goodbye to her dying mother, but she fears it will be too late.

A woman in hotel quarantine who was refused the chance to say goodbye to her dying mother minutes before their scheduled meeting, could get another opportunity – but it might be too late.

Australian citizen Andrea McCourt, who travelled with her husband Mark to Perth from Texas, was left devastated this week after they were told about half an hour before meeting with her mother that it could not go ahead.

The shocking announcement came via email after a security guard at their hotel tested positive for Covid-19.

Following media attention on their plight, Acting Premier Roger Cook revealed on Friday it had been rearranged for Ms McCourt to see her mother.

“Things have been put in place to make sure that that happens as quickly as possible,” he told reporters.

“Obviously, there was complicating factors in relation to the Pan Pacific.

“But those issues, my understanding, have now been overcome and that visitation opportunity has been arranged.”

However, when NCA NewsWire contacted the couple, they shared a much different story.

Ms McCourt just wants a chance to say goodbye to her dying mother. Picture: Supplied

In email correspondence received minutes before Mr Cook spoke to the media, the couple was initially told arrangements for their temporary departure from hotel quarantine could resume subject to approval from the facility and a negative PCR test within 24 hours of the visit.

Then about two hours later, they received an email saying their visit could not be arranged until Monday morning at the earliest.

“Regrettably, the facility has advised they ‘would be very happy to facilitate a visit on either Monday or Tuesday next week at 9.30am’,” the email read.

“Accordingly, without their support we would not be able to facilitate a visit earlier than the above mentioned dates.

“I appreciate that this update would be disheartening.

“If there is any change with respect to the facility’s capacity to arrange an earlier visit, we will endeavour to prioritise the same as much as practicably possible.”

The couple have been dealt a new blow. Picture: Supplied

Under new rules announced on Friday by Mr Cook, double-dose vaccinated arrivals in hotel quarantine who returned negative results on days one, five, and 11 would now be released on day 12 to complete their final two days of quarantine at a home.

It meant the couple should be able to walk out of hotel quarantine on Sunday night, Mr McCourt said.

While Ms McCourt had been cautiously optimistic about her chances of seeing her mother following Mr Cook’s announcement, the Friday afternoon email from authorities was a brutal blow.

They will not give up their fight though and are desperately trying to arrange their visit for Saturday.

“We are fighting on and trying to get hold of the nursing home to find out why they won’t let us come now until Monday or Tuesday,” Mr McCourt said.

“I’m sure they have a valid reason, but this is quite an emotional rollercoaster ride.”