The NSW Police Force-led multi-agency operation to facilitate the mandatory quarantining of returned travellers to NSW is ongoing.
The NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard issued the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order 2020 under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010, which directs any person arriving by aircraft into NSW from a country other than Australia must go directly to a quarantine facility.
Since the order commenced on Sunday 29 March 2020, 32,036 people have entered into mandatory quarantine in NSW. There have been no breaches of the quarantine order.
In an average 24-hour period, there are about 500 NSW Police officers rostered to maintain overall responsibility of 22 hotel footprints. They are supported by a further 150 ADF personnel.
The operation is also assisted by private security contractors.
All travellers are assessed by NSW Health on arrival at Sydney International Airport and those displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are escorted to a hotel managed by NSW Health, while the remainder are escorted to hotels managed by the NSW Police Force.
As at 8am today (Friday 3 July 2020), there are 4972 people in quarantine across 18 Sydney hotels being managed by the NSW Police Force.
There are a further 493 people in four hotels being managed by NSW Health.
Any person who becomes symptomatic while in a police-managed quarantine hotel is transferred to a NSW Health-managed hotel.
The professional management of this process has dramatically reduced the risk of COVID-19 spread within hotels, including to staff and other guests, and to-date has ensured no transmission has occurred.
Further, the cooperation of the hospitality industry – particularly staff members within the hotels – throughout the operation has been exceptional.
