Hotel owners ‘furious’ to find out about coronavirus guest through the media

THE owners of Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter Darwin say they found out a tourist who tested positive for coronavirus was staying at their hotel through the media and still don’t know which room he was in

Ramada Zen Quarter’s owners say they are furious they found out a guest with coronavirus was staying at their hotel through the media

UPDATED: The Hotel have since been contacted by the Deparmtnet of Health and closed off the room as a precaution.

The man, who had hired a car from the airport, drove himself from the airport to Hospital.

Management awat advice fro mthe welfare department on cleaning of the room.

The man had not been in contact with any other guests.

EARLIER: The owners of Darwin’s Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter say they found out a tourist who tested positive for coronavirus was staying there through the media and still don’t know which room he was in.

Ramada Zen Hotel assistant manager Matthew Anthony said he still hasn’t heard from the Health Department and was furious he found out the patient had stayed in his hotel through the media.

“It’s very alarming that we have to hear from media sources that one of our guests had this virus and we weren’t contacted directly,” he said.

“I made efforts to contact the main number at Health, then the minister’s office, it’s been over half an hour and no one’s gotten back to us.”

Mr Anthony said his hotel was now in chaos with staff and patrons fearful over what it could mean for them.

“We don’t know if we’re going to have a load of guests at the desk saying they want to check out or if the staff will jump ship too,” he said.

“We could have been discretely visited so as not to cause panic.

“I could have taken the head cleaner up and maybe the two of us clean the room, and then announce it (to the media).

“We don’t even know the guest or what room he was staying in.”

Mr Anthony said the hotel had started preparing for the coronavirus outbreak but had expected to be informed by the Health Department in an appropriate manner.

“For weeks it’s been in the back of my mind,” he said.

“Yesterday I ordered extra handwash because there’s none left in Darwin … it’s too late to keep this under control because it’s come through the media first.”