How Tim Gunn escaped hotel quarantine at Hobart Travelodge revealed

Exactly how Tim Gunn escaped hotel quarantine at Hobart’s Travelodge, later testing positive to Covid and plunging half a state into lockdown, has been revealed — and it wasn’t simply by “walking out” as he claims. FULL FINDINGS >>

Exactly how Tim Gunn escaped hotel quarantine at Hobart’s Travelodge, later testing positive to Covid and plunging half a state into lockdown, has been revealed — and it wasn’t simply by “walking out” as he claimed.

State Controller Darren Hine on Friday released the findings from the Covid Co-ordination Centre’s review of the ‘recent quarantine facility absconding event’ in Hobart.

“The report details background to the incident, lessons learned and actions taken to address any identified areas for improvement,” Mr Hine said.

“The review has determined the guest likely absconded via a fire escape, during the short period of time that security staff were changing PPE and briefly attending reception.”

Tim Gunn is transferred to the Fountainside accommodation in Hobart. Picture Eddie Safarik

In an interview with Channel 7, Gunn pleaded ignorance, claiming he did not realise he needed to quarantine, despite the fact he was taken to the Travelodge and given a room.

He also denied allegations he’d escaped.

“I didn’t escape or anything like that, I simply walked out,” Gunn said.

But the official review found that Gunn likely took the small 10-to-20-minute window of opportunity when security staff changed PPE and checked in at reception to slip out the fire escape.

The review found Gunn was not granted approval to enter Tasmania from two separate G2G applications made on September 28 and October 1 having spent time in level 1/high risk areas in NSW and Victoria.

In the rejection letter, Gunn was told “it is an offence for a person who has been in a high-risk area to arrive in Tasmania without the prior approval of the State Controller (or Delegate)”.

The Fountainside Motel on the Brooker Highway that will be used to quarantine arrivals into Tasmania. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

After being escorted to his room on level 4 of the Travelodge at 10.35pm on October 11, it was determined Gunn left the facility during a “short period of time” the security staff member changed their PPE and checked in at reception.

“Following a number of attempts to contact the Guest by different services, a physical check was conducted at 1pm on 12 October 2021 which determined that the Guest was not in their room, with subsequent searching indicating that the Guest was no longer at the facility,” the report found.

“The Guest’s belongings including travel bags remained in the room. At this point DCT and Tasmania Police were notified that the Guest had absconded from the facility (and) following a brief search, Tasmania Police returned the Guest to the facility at 5:50pm on 12 October 2021.

“Expedited COVID-19 testing of the Guest was undertaken on 12 and 13 October 2021, which confirmed the Guest as a positive case.”

The report found use of the room’s window to abscond was unlikely, with the room being on level 4 and the very small opening aperture of windows in the facility.

“Given the reception area is highly monitored by hotel staff, security personnel and closed-circuit television (CCTV) it is highly improbable that the Guest departed the facility through the front door.”

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Hine said as a result of the review into the incident “a number of immediate actions” were taken.

“This included increasing the number of security guards engaged at the Travelodge Hobart and installing additional CCTV and alarm switches at the facility, as well as a broader enhanced security regime,” he said.

“I want to acknowledge that Tasmania has solid systems and processes in place to manage the COVID-19 risk at our borders, and would like to reassure Tasmanians that this has been further strengthened as part of this review.”

Mr Hine said up to September 30, 2021, a total of 13,413 guests have been accommodated in the government managed quarantine system, with no cases of Covid-19 transmission occurring within these facilities.

“Since March 2020, the system and measures have served us well, thanks to the dedicated work of the people at these accommodation sites, as well as the thousands of people who have done the right thing while in quarantine,” Mr Hine said.

Official findings

The official findings show prior to arrival to Tasmania:

• the individual (the Guest) twice sought approval to travel to Tasmania from Victoria on 28 September and 1 October 2021 via the G2G Pass system

• in these applications, the Guest had indicated having spent time in designated level 1 high risk/no travel areas in New South Wales and Victoria in the 14 days prior to the proposed travel date

• as a result the Guest was not granted approval to enter Tasmania (from either of the applications)

• the Guest was provided with the following written information on 29 September and 1 October 2021, via the G2G Pass system, advising of their unsuccessful application to travel to Tasmania:

“Your application is NOT approved because travellers who have spent time in an affected area or premise in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania are not permitted to enter Tasmania.

Your travel to Tasmania is not approved at this time.

If you have an essential reason to travel to Tasmania, please resubmit with further evidence to support why your travel is essential and your application can be reconsidered.

For more information, visit coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert.

Please note that it is an offence for a person who has been in a high-risk area to arrive in Tasmania without the prior approval of the State Controller (or Delegate).”

Hobart International Airport. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Upon arrival to Tasmania:

• the Guest arrived at Hobart Airport at 8:40 pm on 11 October 2021 from Melbourne, with no other outbound flights to Melbourne scheduled for that day • the Guest was advised by Tasmania Police of the requirement to quarantine and transferred to a government managed quarantine facility (Travelodge Hobart), arriving at the facility at between 10:05 pm and 10:15 pm

At the quarantine facility:

• following a preliminary check-in process, the Guest was escorted to their room on level 4 of the quarantine facility at 10:35 pm on 11 October 2021 present at the quarantine facility at that time were six security guards: four guards were allocated an occupied floor each with visuals on the two fire escapes, one in the reception area and one guard was a roaming supervisor.

• after this point there was a short period of time (10 to 20 minutes) that the access points to the floor were not being visually monitored, as the security staff member allocated to the floor was changing their personal protective equipment (PPE) and briefly attending reception to complete the check-in process

• following a number of attempts to contact the Guest by different services, a physical check was conducted at 1:00 pm on 12 October 2021 which determined that the Guest was not in their room, with subsequent searching indicating that the Guest was no longer at the facility

• the Guest’s belongings including travel bags remained in the room

• at this point DCT and Tasmania Police were notified that the Guest had absconded from the facility

• following a brief search, Tasmania Police returned the Guest to the facility at 5:50pm on 12 October 2021

• expedited COVID-19 testing of the Guest was undertaken on 12 and 13 October 2021, which confirmed the Guest as a positive case

The Travelodge Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Analysis of the available information indicates that:

• the Guest likely absconded from the facility via a fire escape, during the short period of time that security staff were not present due to changing their PPE and briefly attending reception

• use of the room’s window to abscond is unlikely, with the room being on level 4 and the very small opening aperture of windows in the facility

• given the reception area is highly monitored by hotel staff, security personnel and closed-circuit television (CCTV) it is highly improbable that the Guest departed the facility through the front door.

Read the full report here.