There were tears and cheers as travellers in forced coronavirus hotel quarantine breathed fresh air for the first time in 14 days after being released from Sydney's Swissotel.
However, just 150 metres away, a family of seven that had been isolating at the Hilton after an overseas trip were loaded into ambulances with COVID-19 symptoms.
Two of them have since tested positive.
Paramedics were seen transporting three children from the family on stretchers outside the hotel at around 10.00pm yesterday.
The family was taken to another hotel which is being used as a hospital, for testing and one adult and one child returned positive results.
NSW's chief medical officer Kerry Chant said those in the family who had not contracted the virus would remain in hotel quarantine.
"Obviously everyone will remain in quarantine but we will be supporting that family in terms of their health needs and any other needs they may have," she said.
The family was in quarantine because it had been overseas.
Meanwhile, the first people to be forced into a 14-day hotel quarantine after travelling overseas were this morning released from the nearby Swissotel.
Some screamed, cheered and waved their arms as they stepped outside for the first time in a fortnight.
By the end of today, 280 people will have left the hotel under police escort.
International travellers were quarantined across 15 hotels and so far about 30 per cent of the 121 of the symptomatic travellers have tested positive to COVID-19.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said it was "wonderful" to see the first group of travellers head home.
"We thank them for their patience, and really protecting the safety of the people of NSW," he said.
The travellers had been on the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship which, after being turned away at several Pacific ports, docked in Hawaii last month before passengers were flown to Australia.
One traveller said being locked up in a hotel room had been claustrophobic and boring.
"All I want to do is breathe fresh air and walk," she said.
Linda Cisfo cried as she walked out the hotel doors and said she felt fragile but relieved.
"It [was] a mental game as much as a physical game but I'm so happy to be out ... fresh air, see my kids and animals, really happy."
Another traveller, Rachel Deering, said the hotel staff had been accommodating.
However, she said parts of the quarantine process were "inhumane".
"There's a lot that needs to be changed," she said.
"We fully support the concept of quarantine but this is a very ill-conceived plan — very poorly executed."
NSW Police said it worked with travellers to ensure their departure was "quick, simple and seamless" and helped coordinate travel to the airport for those who lived interstate.
All travellers will undergo a final health check before leaving the hotel.
The next group of travellers to finish their compulsory quarantine will head home on April 11.
