NSW Health includes Paralympians in home quarantine trial
More than a dozen Paralympians have been quarantining at home instead of in a hotel as part of a trial, NSW Health has confirmed.
Currently, 17 Paralympians are isolating at home after returning from the Games in Tokyo.
“NSW Health was considering exemptions for a small number of Paralympians to home quarantine where it was considered they would be more suitably cared for in their home due to high care needs, including equipment requirements,” a spokesperson said.
“Subsequently, this model has been included as part of the NSW home quarantine trial which has allowed more Paralympians to participate.”
All Australian Paralympians competing in the games were double vaccinated before leaving for Tokyo.
Not all Paralympians have been included in the trial and many are still quarantining in Sydney hotels.
Madison de Rozario, who won gold in both the wheelchair marathon and 800m events, is among the 17 Paralympians granted an exemption for home quarantine.
De Rozario told Today she was thankful for the opportunity to be able to quarantine at home instead of a hotel.
“I understand how challenging that is, a lot of our teammates are in that situation,” she said.
“We’ve been in a lot of contact since Games have wrapped up. We understand how much more challenging that is.”
De Rozario said she and the other trial participants were all undergoing the same tests as those in hotel quarantine.
Those at home are required to check in via an app several times a day, de Rozario explained.
“Basically, it will buzz at us … four times a day. You have five minutes to take a photo of yourself and it will Face ID you and geolocate you to your home or apartment.
“It’s straightforward. It’s very good.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian indicated last week the state would look to move away from the hotel quarantine system once double vaccination rates reach 70 – 80 percent.
Double vaccinated people should be able to quarantine at home, the premier said, while also flagging the time period could be cut to as low as seven days for travellers who test negative upon arrival.
De Rozario said she was impressed with the system and hoped it would be rolled out for other travellers.
“If this rolls out it will be amazing,” she said.
“I understand the mental health repercussions of two weeks in a hotel room.
“It’s an enormous challenge to undertake that.
“If everyone can do this it will be more manageable.”
