Once upon a time ... COVID quarantine memories for the records - 7 January 2021 in Perth, WA

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Cleaning up photo files, I came across this shot, taken on 7 January, 2021, when I was in Western Australian Covid quarantine.

 

Entry to the then largely Covid-free state of Western Australia was extremely difficult to get, even for genuinely desperate reasons. Four failed applications, the fifth, to my great relief, finally granted.

 

I spent quarantine in comfort at my daughter's in-laws' house that came with a lovely garden. I have to say, I quite enjoyed my COVID quarantine time, and was able to easily continue with my online painting course without being disturbed - apart by random calls from police COVID surveillance.

 

The way this worked:

When I applied for permission to enter the state of Western Australia, which was still largely COVID-free at that time (four rejections...) I had to provide the following information:

- reason for application (all compassionate reasons were routinely rejected)

- where I was staying;

- how many rooms the premises had;

- how many bathrooms;

- whether other people were living there during my stay;

- if yes, whether I would have my own room and bathroom;

- how I would get food;

- how I would get to and from the nearest PCR testing centre and - how I would travel to the final destination in Western Australia after quarantine, and its location.

 

After providing all this information it then was up to the particular officer who reviewed my application, whether the application would be accepted, or denied. Two were rejected straight away (not enough information provided); With the third I received some information on what would assist with the application, i.e. all the information listed above in detail, the fourth application was again rejected, despite providing detailed information and so, for the fifth time, I started the whole process again, now also providing a recommendation for approval by a medical practitioner whose care my relative was under. That was a great relief and I stayed in WA for close to six months and providing my relative desperately needed support.

 

I then received a G2G (Good to Go) pass which I needed to carry with me at all times.

 

Conditions:

- I was not permitted to leave the premises, except on day 14 to get a PCR test.

- During quarantine, I received calls at random times of the day, then had to take a selfie, tick some health checks, and send this information within 5 minutes to the Covid control centre, which was manned by police. Sending this information included, of course, the location.

- Failing to do this, police would come knocking in order to find out my whereabouts.

Apart from that, I also received daily emails from WA Covid Health, also requiring and confirming health information.

 

I was quite shocked the first time the call came: I was in the garden, the mobile phone inside, and a siren went off! Panicked I rushed inside fearing I had left the stove on, something was on fire, and it may be the fire alarm. It was the call from police! It was loud, very loud! The earliest calls came around 7am, just around the time I was in the bathroom, i.e. I learnt quickly to get up earlier than 6:30am in order not get caught sitting on the loo or be in the shower. The latest calls came around 8pm. On the odd occasion there were two calls per day.

 

PCR test on day 14:

One was permitted to walk no more than 2km to the nearest testing centre which, unfortunately, was more than 2km away. Day 14 turned out to be a very hot day.

 

The following is how this went:

RING A CAB

Destination?

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Aha. PCR test?

Yes

One moment please. I have to refer you to the supervisor.

Thank you.

Destination?

Fiona Stanley Hosptial

Aha. For a PCR test?

Yes, please

Taxi should be there within 10 minuites.

Thank you.

Taxi arrived within 10 minutes. How good is that?

Friendly driver whose daughter lived in Syndey and who he couldn't visit due to return entry restricitons to WA (14 day quarantine requirements for returning WA residents who also needed to apply for permission to re-enter WA leaving some WA residents stranded in other states, unable to return home and causing major distress, not to mention additional expense for accommodation, to many).

 

Arriving at the clinic, there was a small marquis and two nurses in full protective gear, handing out information and hand-sanitizers, taking details. I was then motioned to proceed to the clinic.

 

To my relief, I was the first at the clinic and was promptly whisked into a room for testing. After the test, I was given some written information in an envelope which I did not bother reading and asked to wait outside. Two chairs were provided in the shade. It was very hot already, probably in the mid to high 30's C.

 

RETURN TRIP

 

Ring taxi. The same company. The same lady answering the call.

Pick up, please?

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Aha. PCR test?

Yes

I have to refer you to the supervisior.

Thank you.

Pick up?

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Aha. PCR test ...

Yes

Ok. I have to find a driver who will take the fare. If the wait is longer than 30 minutes, call back and I'll try to find someone else.

HUH ???

 

And so, the wait began, in very hot weather. While waiting, I decided to read the information I was given. People walking past looked at me with suspicion. WA at this time was basically covid-free and anybody near a PCR clinic could be a potential health hazard.

 

The information was for the taxi driver:

- All windows to be open;

- Passenger and driver to wear masks;

- Hands sanitized

- Taxi to be deep-cleaned after every fare with a passenger from a PCR testing clinic!

No wonder drivers were reluctant to take a fare! The clinic was about 4km away from 'home', which I could have easily walked had it not been due to restrictions and the by now very hot day. Half an hour came and went and I was contemplating how to get back if no driver was prepared to take the fare. Ring police? Thankfully, shortly after a taxi arrived. Windows open, masks on, hands sanitized. It was a very breezy drive, wind in the hair :)

I had the impression the taxi driver was not impressed.

 

I was not permitted to leave my quarantine until I had received the PCR test result which needed to be nagative, i.e. the earliest I could leave was day 15. The negative result came in the afternoon of day 15, together with a last police check around 8pm. Hence, left quarantine on day 16.

 

And now?

Eventually, the authorities decided to just let it rip and 'live with covid'. I don't follow the statistics anymore, but there appear to be claims that despite high vaccination rates, numbers of COVID deaths have increased more than would be expected at any other time (whatever that may mean...)

 

So far, I have evaded getting ill with this virus :)

Done