16 January 2021
A number of guests and staff quarantined because of the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster will be released tonight following a reassessment of their risk.
“We are not allowing all guests to be released – just those who I believe are no longer an infection risk to the community,” Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.
“Community contacts associated with the hotel cleaner who tested positive to the UK variant of COVID-19 – or her partner – are to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.
“Guests and staff yet to complete their 14-days mandatory quarantine will also remain in quarantine.
“But I am happy that we are in a position where we can release many people from quarantine, especially guests who have already completed more than the required 14 days.
“I ordered the evacuation of the Hotel Grand Chancellor out of caution and relocated all guests to other quarantine facilities. Most hotel workers and government staff were placed into home quarantine.
“This was the safest action to take to protect the community.”
The following cohorts will be released from hotel or home quarantine at 6pm today:
- all staff engaged at Hotel Grand Chancellor since 30 December 2020, including hotel workers, Queensland Police Service officers, Australian Defence Force officers, Queensland Health staff, pathology staff and other workers engaged
- quarantined guests released from the Hotel Grand Chancellor since 30 December 2020 after completing 14 days of mandatory quarantine, and
- quarantined guests transferred from the Hotel Grand Chancellor and remain at The Westin, where they have completed their 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
The guests and staff are required to meet a set of conditions before they are released, including completing their individual quarantine requirements, evidence of negative COVID-19 tests, being free of COVID-19 symptoms, and providing up-to-date contact details.
“Due to a range of circumstances, individuals must await contact from the public health officer,” Dr Young said.
“Please be patient as we are working through these contacts as swiftly and safely as possible through the day. Thank you for helping keep Queensland safe.”
ENDS
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