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. 2022 Oct;46(5):633-639.
doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13275. Epub 2022 Jul 7.

An outdoor hotel quarantine facility model in Australia: best practice with optimal outcomes

Stephanie J Curtis  1   2 , Abigail Trewin  1 , Kathleen McDermott  1 , Karen Were  1 , Tracy Walczynski  1 , Len Notaras  1 , Nick Walsh  1
Affiliations

An outdoor hotel quarantine facility model in Australia: best practice with optimal outcomes

Stephanie J Curtis et al. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the operationalisation of a novel outdoor quarantine facility managed by the Australian Medical Assistance Team, the Howard Springs International Quarantine Facility (HSIQF) at the Centre for National Resilience in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Methods: We collated documentation and data from HSIQF to describe policies and procedures implemented and performed a descriptive analysis of key procedures and outcomes.

Results: From 23 October 2020 to 31 March 2021, 2.2% (129/5,987) of residents were confirmed COVD-19 cases. On average per day, 82 [Interquartile Range (IQR): 29-95] staff completed personal protective equipment (PPE) training, 94 [IQR: 90-104] staff completed antigen testing and 51 [IQR: 32-136] staff completed polymerase chain reaction testing. The operation focused on building a safe environment with infection prevention and control adherence and workforce sustainability. There was no leakage of SARS-CoV-2 to staff or the community and no PPE compromises requiring staff to quarantine for 14 days.

Conclusion: HSIQF demonstrates the operationalisation of an effective, safe and replicable quarantine system.

Implications for public health: Quarantine is a critical public health tool for pandemic control. The HSIQF operations may be useful to inform the establishment and management of quarantine facilities for future and current disease outbreaks.

Keywords: COVID-19; disease outbreaks; emergencies; medical assistance; quarantine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Daily hand hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment training attendance by staff at Howard Springs International Quarantine Facility at the Centre of National Resilience from 5 November 2020 to 25 March 2021, by week and staff group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of diagnostic tests performed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at Howard Springs International Quarantine Facility at the Centre of National Resilience from 1 January to 25 March 2021, by week, type of test, and staff group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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