Thread by @lonnibesancon, FREEDOM 1. After 15 days locked inside my room, I’m finally out! [...]

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔐" title="Geschlossenes Schloss mit Schlüssel" aria-label="Emoji: Geschlossenes Schloss mit Schlüssel">

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇦🇺" title="Flagge von Australien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Australien">FREEDOM

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔐" title="Geschlossenes Schloss mit Schlüssel" aria-label="Emoji: Geschlossenes Schloss mit Schlüssel">

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇦🇺" title="Flagge von Australien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Australien">
1. After 15 days locked inside my room, I’m finally out! A quick thread on how things went.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⏬" title="Nach unten zeigendes doppeltes Dreieck" aria-label="Emoji: Nach unten zeigendes doppeltes Dreieck">

2. When I landed in Adelaide, just getting out of the plane, my temperature was tested right away, I was given a new clean mask to put on with strict instructions/guidelines on how to put it on right.

3. I was told to not remove the mask at any moment before I got to my hotel room with the door closed behind me. Federal police will be present all along the way to enforce this.

4. I quickly grabbed my checked-in luggage and was told to wait while seated on individual chairs, all separated from each other by a fair distance. Every 10-15 minutes or so, a group of 20 people would leave.

5. Please note that the whole way, every single person handling this was wearing protection (gloves, masks,…)

6. After 20 minutes of waiting, I was told to grab my bags, and I could finally step outside. But only for a very short moment. I was asked to drop my bags in front of a bus, clean my hands again with provided gel and hop in the bus, seating alone.

7. The bus took us all the way to a hotel in which we, one by one, got off, grabbed our bags, were checked by the police for our identity, given a room number and a key and accompanied to the room.

8. No one but me would be allowed in the room. I was given pieces of paper to read (instructions for my stay) and stepped in my room, the door was closed. I was not allowed to step out before 15 days later.

9. Here is how things went during the stay. Every morning I had breakfast delivery at 8:30. Lunch delivery at 12:30. Diner at 18:45. A bag would be dropped in front of my door. I had to pick it up once instructed to do so (knock on the door).

10. Dietary restrictions were considered so I was given all vegan food

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌱" title="Setzling" aria-label="Emoji: Setzling">
I could order extra (see later the cost) and alcohol (with a limit of 1 bottle of spirit per 3 days, or one pack of beers/botte of wine per day).

11. I was allowed to order food through Ubereats but the food would be dropped at the reception only and then brought to my room by hotel personnel.

12. During the quarantine I got tested 3 times. At time of arrival (or next day if late), at day 5 and day 12. Results within 48h max.

13. There was no garbage collection before day 5 after arrival. There was no services (change of sheets/laundry) available. I could ask for new sheets/towels but had to change everything myself.

14. For laundry I had detergent in the room to wash myself by hand. I had to clean my own cutlery. I had a windows that would slightly open to get fresh air everyday.

15. Every day I would get a call from the health services and one from the police. Goal was to check for symptoms with me and make sure that mental health was ok. They asked if I needed a refill on any prescription I might have.

16. The hotel staff tried hard to make the stay as comfortable as possible. Every day they organised on an internal channel some live activities (yoga, fitness…) as well as some photo contest with things you could do in your room.

17. Every Friday they offered us a free cocktail. For easter, the easter bunny dropped a bottle of Oz white wine. Room was very decent with a lot of space that made yoga/exercise totally possible.

18. Wifi was really not great, but considering the number of guests stuck there it was ok. TBF, streaming was totally possible thanks to the buffering, but live video calls were… difficult to say the least.

19. Health personnel made sure that I had everything I needed and hotel staff explained the whole procedure and checked on us very regularly.

20. I was unlucky enough to have someone in my flight who tested positive on the first test. So I had more uncertainties concerning my leaving time. Fortunately, all my tests came back negative. But I still had an extra check up to do on the phone daily.

21. Testing was done at my doorstep by two nurses, fully protected and with me not allowed outside of the room still.

22. Two days before my final days they explained that check out will be regulated: it will be done room per room with a mask to wear at all times. The hotel does not have any non-quarantine guests, so once you check out (before 10am) there is no coming back.

23. Now about costs. This whole quarantine is in a nice hotel, so the price is fixed (for all incoming travellers) at a rate of Aus$3000 for two weeks. If you have to stay longer this is included.

24. All meals are included too. The free cocktails also were. Anything extra you order is billed when you leave.

25. Now I’m finally free and will get on a taxi to catch my next flight to Melbourne! The whole things seems so crazy and dystopian even TBF: I never imagined that I would live something like this ever.

26. While it seems horrible on paper, I was lucky enough to have enough work to keep me busy and amazing staff to help with this. And to be fair, this whole process helps keep the country mostly COVID free. So after this “sacrifice” I amable to enjoy a country a normal life again

27. Seems to me totally worth it. Of course Australia is an island which makes closing borders and controlling them much much easier. That being said, I appreciate that the authorities took this strict strategy. It definitely pays out today.

28. Now I’m out to enjoy the country! Not gonna lie I’m surely gonna struggle with the accent. As a good friend once said “Australia is nice as, too bad they don’t speak English”

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß">

29. That’s it for me! Cheers from down under :)!

If you read this far, consider reading this thread showing how *ANYONE* can help research on COVID-19! https://twitter.com/lonnibesancon/status/1379651407763103744?s=20">https://twitter.com/lonnibesa...

https://twitter.com/lonnibesancon/status/1379651407763103744?s=20

Latest Threads Unrolled: