Hotel Quarantine Protocols: What You Should Do and Expect Upon Arriving in Australia

04 November 2021

Quarantine is used to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The duration of hotel quarantine is for a minimum of 14 days up to 24 days, with limited exceptions for transiting air or sea passengers. The Chief Health Officer may release a person after 14 days if satisfied that the person does not pose a risk of infecting another person with COVID-19. In making the assessment, the Chief Health Officer must consider any testing or assessment conducted by, or on behalf of, NSW Health.

When in hotel quarantine you will routinely be tested for COVID-19 on day 2, day 7 and day 12 of the quarantine period, or at any time you first experience symptoms of COVID-19. If the results are all negative, you will be able to leave the hotel quarantine at the end of 14 full days providing you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and have been approved to do so by an authorised person.

People who refuse to be tested, or test positive will be required to stay in quarantine for a longer period. That is, until the end of the quarantine period (24 days), or in the case of a positive test, until clear of infection.

Close contact of a person in quarantine who tests positive will also be required to be isolated for 14 days from when they were last in contact with a person with COVID-19. This may also result in quarantine longer than the minimum mandated 14 days.

What You Should Do and Expect Upon Arriving in Australia

Travellers Who Arrive By Air: Travellers who arrive by air are required to quarantine and undergo a COVID-19 symptom and temperature check at the airport. If you have any symptoms such as fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat or shortness of breath you will be tested for COVID-19 at the airport or seaport and transferred to a hotel managed by NSW Health to await your results. Your checked luggage will be transferred separately to your accommodation. If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, you will collect your luggage and be transferred to a hotel or other designated quarantine facility.

Travellers Who Arrive By Sea: Travellers who arrive by sea must be authorised to disembark by the Commissioner of Police or delegate and must go to a quarantine facility, hospital or another medical facility as directed by the Commissioner to undertake a quarantine period. If leaving Australia by air, you will be directed to go to an airport (to get a flight out of Australia). You must follow the directions of the Commissioner while travelling to the airport.

Can You Choose Your Hotel?

All hotel quarantine for travellers is pre-arranged and you are not required to make a booking. It is not possible to advise in advance which hotel you will stay at. This is determined on the day of your arrival.

Will I Have To Pay For The Accommodation?

The NSW Government will charge travellers for their hotel quarantine accommodation. You will still be required to quarantine in government arranged accommodation, unless provided an exemption to self-isolate. The NSW Government will invoice you at the end of your stay.

SOURCE

Health Protection NSW. (2021, October 08). COVID-19: Information for people requiring hotel quarantine. Retrieved October 08, 2021, from Health NSW: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/hotel-quarantine.aspx

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