I stayed in a quarantine hotel for two weeks AMA

[Cissyandflora]

I didn’t know whether to make a thread about this but I’ve been thinking that maybe people would be interested to know something of the experience. I was in Sydney and spent two weeks at the end of last year. If anyone has a question I’ll answer it!

My dh did this in China. He could have outside deliveries three times per week and towels, sheets etc left outside the room.

@aweegc

I understand that the U.K. version is "softer" than the Aussie version. What do you think about that? Do you think that yours was really tough but at least it was worth it, whereas the U.K. one will be a bit easier but maybe less guaranteed to achieve its objectives? Or do you think something else?

I admire Australia for what they did. Very strict quotas for people coming into the country every day. The army met the plane and takes everyone to the hotel. It’s regimented. The police guard the hotels 24 hours a day and a security guard is on every floor. By contrast- I came into the U.K. in November and there was no security whatsoever. I mean no staff. It was shocking. It’s embarrassing that the U.K. are only now going to quarantine people. It’s absurd that we are so far behind and so many people have died and suffered. I don’t feel I was treated badly. I also paid a lot more in other countries for quarantine and testing than people will do here. That’s their government’s incredibly effective approach and policy.

@Kokeshi123

It doesn't sound very well organized. I'm pretty sure countries like Korea and Taiwan have arrangements for laundry and cleaning, and apparently the food is very good.

I watched this video of a guy doing the quarentine in korea, he couldn't get laundry done, they just gave laundry soap to do it yourself and had to order his own sheets.

@ShanghaiDiva

My dh did this in China. He could have outside deliveries three times per week and towels, sheets etc left outside the room.

That sounds similar. There was no restrictions on take outs though. And I’m sure if I’d asked for extra towels I could have got. One of the rooms next to me was vacated suddenly in the night because the person couldn’t bear the quarantine. I saw the police come and escort the person. I then crept out the next morning and took their meal and towels.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

there was an interview on the news today with someone that had just started isolating in a hotel. I found all the "wow, how are you going to cope for TEN days?" questions a bit OTT - I know of several elderly/CEV people that haven't been outside small flats or had any visitors in almost a year. I'm not saying it's not tough, but it's a measure I think should have been put in place early last year - not as we're now hearing about "the end of lockdown" coming soon.

I totally agree. I think the past year has been such a huge thing for us to deal with that the two weeks in the hotel is no big deal. I just think it’s a really unusual experience and have often thought of writing about it here. I’m glad I have now!

@rawalpindithelabrador

I'm sure if you're wealthy you can be in a lovely suite like Rita Ora.

Well exactly. She has a friend with her and a balcony to sit on too!

@XenoBitch

Was there any mental health support?

Every day a mental health nurse would call me to do a welfare check. They are based in the hotel. 24 hours a day if needed.

@ShagMeRiggins

Who pays for the hotel?

I did. It’s all been expensive.

@Doyoumind

I think I would love this, as long as I was by myself Did you read a lot? That's what I would imagine myself doing.

I didn’t even finish one book! Thought I would but actually couldn’t relax into it.

@BertieBotts

Ooh my friend is doing this at the moment but with 2 kids under 5 I am in awe of her.

Did the food get repetitive or was it just nice not to have to cook?

The food was horrible. But definitely nice to be in a room with a big bed. And a nice bathroom.

You mentioned doing quarantine both in Australia and Singapore. What was the difference between the two?

It’s certainly a weird experience.
China was also well organised. Arriving passengers were issued with hazmat suits, taken to a processing centre and then put on a bus to take them to the hotel.This was March of last year.

The not opening the windows to the outside world for fresh air is bonkers and horrifying, surely they are well aware how air con spreads it and the corridors must have been laden if someone had covid.

Did anyone test positive whilst you were there?

Remember how our country drove people from the cruise ships and rescue flights from China to the hotel, and had the drivers just in their seat, no mask and then let the drivers continue to work for 2 weeks.....

Other countries were in hazmat suits.

I think Australia and New Zealand is harsh but they are right.

Was there any way to get fresh air into the room? I think I'd be fine staying in one room for two weeks, but if the window didn't open and the air conditioning was turned off, I think I'd have nightmares about suffocating!

@DenisetheMenace

XenoBitch

Was there any mental health support?”

For two weeks?

The fact the OP said they had daily check ins regarding their mental health says a lot. If you think you would be ok being stuck in a hotel room for 2 weeks, then good for you. Many people would not.

Just saw the example of a day's food. That would send my blood sugar through the roof as I have to eat low GI, low carb. I know my ex has to quarantine several times for work and the food ruined his diabetes management. Did they ask or bother at all about that kind of thing?

the person couldn’t bear the quarantine. I saw the police come and escort the person.

Do you know where they were taken?

I think I would go nuts spending two weeks in one room with no option to go outside and no fresh air.

Really interesting thread, thanks OP.

I am just thinking about all the people on another thread who can't sleep at night without a window open no matter if it is freezing. I wonder how they would cope in a quarantine hotel

My husband has just completed 27 days in Angola after a issue with having his passport returned, he has now started 8 weeks on a ship and will face uk quarantine when he returns home. This is his 4th time in quarantine aboard and he will now have less than 2 weeks at home before starting the process all over again. The conditions he has been quarantining in are pretty horrific so at least the uk one should be better. I am seriously worried about the impact on his mental health and can see the impact it having on him.

Was there good tv service? Did you binge watch any good programmes?

@waterlego

the person couldn’t bear the quarantine. I saw the police come and escort the person.

Do you know where they were taken?

I think I would go nuts spending two weeks in one room with no option to go outside and no fresh air.

Really interesting thread, thanks OP.

Thank you! I had wanted to do this thread when I was actually in Australia but I wasn’t sure whether people would be interested. Now that the U.K. are setting up their version I thought I’d make this thread.

The person in the room next to me was escorted back to the airport where they went home. I’m not sure which country this was.

For those who have doubted that mental health is an issue this is an article from the guardian from last April detailing a doctor's concerns www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/hotel-quarantine-a-disaster-and-vulnerable-people-should-be-allowed-home-doctor-says.

I'm aware of at least two suicides in quarantine hotels (one in Australia, one in Israel). The Australian system received a lot of complaints about lack of mental health support initially (amongst other things). See here www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/10/national-review-of-hotel-quarantine.pdf

People who are going to be subject to quarantine are often coming into the country because of a family or health crisis and are therefore particularly vulnerable.

@FlameHairedRachel

Was there good tv service? Did you binge watch any good programmes?

The room had normal tv but I didn’t watch much. No premium stations. But I had bought an iPad the day before travelling and that was everything to me. I watched a few series of Schitts Creek which I discovered and loved. And signed up for an Australian service like Netflix. I watched lots. I’m not normally a tv watcher so it was a real novelty.

@Chessie678

For those who have doubted that mental health is an issue this is an article from the guardian from last April detailing a doctor's concerns www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/hotel-quarantine-a-disaster-and-vulnerable-people-should-be-allowed-home-doctor-says.

I'm aware of at least two suicides in quarantine hotels (one in Australia, one in Israel). The Australian system received a lot of complaints about lack of mental health support initially (amongst other things). See here www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/10/national-review-of-hotel-quarantine.pdf

People who are going to be subject to quarantine are often coming into the country because of a family or health crisis and are therefore particularly vulnerable.

Yes I think it was a reaction to this that means that there is a doctor and mental health nurse on duty at all times in the hotel.

You’re right about the reasons for travelling. And yes people are more likely to be particularly vulnerable but I still say it has to be done. It’s effective.

I was actually traveling because of a crisis. Which is why I wasn’t able to read, exercise or relax much. I was too agitated.