Melbourne’s quarantine facility is now available to unvaccinated overseas visitors
The Victorian Quarantine Hub located in Melbourne is completing its final preparations in readiness for the facility’s opening on Monday.
This is a big step forward in Victoria’s public health response to the COVID-19 epidemic, since quarantine restrictions for unvaccinated travelers continue to be a key factor in our ability to stay open.
As hotel quarantine is phased out over the next month, the hub will become Victoria’s sole quarantine facility, with the potential to house up to 1000 people at any given time beginning in April.
In addition to unvaccinated travelers, the facility can house covid-positive community members who cannot isolate at home, such as healthcare staff. It might also be used as a makeshift shelter in the event of a natural disaster, and it will be essential in the event of future pandemics.
Unlike hotels that have to be renovated to fulfill quarantine and ventilation regulations, the hub was built with infection prevention and control at its core.
The hub consists of cabin-style accommodations with outdoor decks for access and leave, preventing the virus from spreading through common hallways and other indoor places.
All services and facilities are offered immediately onsite, limiting needless internal and external transit.
The center will function in an open-air environment and rely on cutting-edge technology, including as specialized ventilation systems created by IPC specialists and CCTV surveillance of the communities, using lessons learned from hotel quarantine.
Guests will have access to computerized meal ordering and entertainment, which will reduce staff-to-resident interaction.
COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria will be in charge of the location, with Victoria Police manning the perimeter.
CQV has started on-site training and orientation for about 560 employees, as well as stress-testing all systems to verify that its rigorous IPC processes are in place before the first residents arrive.
The VQH is a Commonwealth-State initiative, with the Victorian Government spending an initial $15 million in planning and design, as well as operational expenditures, equipment, and operating system fit-out. The project’s remaining expenditures, including building, were covered by the Australian government.
