‘It’s not a holiday’ Fyles hits back at Howard Springs quarantine complainers

HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles has hit back at complaints about the ‘sub par’ meals and rooms at the Howard Springs facility and said quarantine isn’t supposed to be a holiday

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• Hot spot quarantiner slams service, food, cleanliness at Howard Springs facility

HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles has hit back at complaints about the “sub par” meals and rooms at the Howard Springs facility and said quarantine isn’t supposed to be a holiday.

A handful of the 456 people currently undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine at the Howard Springs facility have made complaints about their living conditions.

One hot spot arrival said there had been food delivered without cutlery, used band-aids left in rooms and no visible patrols in place.

“I’m absolutely for quarantine but the way they are doing it is sub par and we absolutely could be doing better,” he said.

Minister Fyles brushed off questions about the complaints at a press conference on Tuesday.

“In terms of Howard Springs, we’re not forcing anyone to go there,” she said.

“If you don’t want to go into mandatory quarantine don’t come to the Northern Territory — it’s not a holiday.

“We would prefer for you to stay in your hotspot not come here and be a threat to our community.

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“We’re running a facility that’s caring for hundreds of people.

“The government agencies and the contract providers out there are doing a very good job.”

There have been 32,657 arrivals in the NT since July 17 including 12,623 by air, 20,015 by road and 19 by sea or rail.

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