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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Kathryn Lewis

'Workable and safe': ANU says G7 quarantine operation presents future model

ANU's Davey Lodge was used to quarantine officials returning from the G7 summit. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

As returned G7 summit officials leave quarantine at ANU's Davey Lodge, the institution says it has presented "a workable and safe model" for quarantine in the future.

About 40 fully vaccinated members of the Prime Minister's travelling party, including officials and journalists, spent the past two weeks in quarantine at the student accommodation site upon their return.

On the final day of quarantine, an ANU spokesman said they were "really pleased" with how the arrangement with ACT Health and ACT Policing had played out.

"Based on the success of this process it presents a workable and safe model for future quarantine arrangements for travellers returning home to Canberra," he said.

"We've developed a really strong and productive working relationship with ACT Health.

"We look forward to continuing to work with the ACT government and ACT Health to implement similar programs in the future."

ANU has pushed for international student arrivals to be able to quarantine on campus, but ACT Health has previously deemed the accommodation unsuitable.

An ACT government spokesman said the operation would now be assessed and the government would be happy to share "feedback and findings" with the federal government, "to inform national cabinet decisions about the return of international students to Australia".

"The ACT government worked closely with the Commonwealth government, Australian National University and ACT Policing to put in place robust quarantine arrangements to ensure the safe arrival and care for this group of returning Australian travellers," the spokesman said.

The quarantine arrangements were similar to those of hotel quarantine, with about 30 health staff involved.

Travellers were screened for symptoms on arrival and tested for COVID-19 several times throughout the 14-day period.

ACT health officials have previously deemed the accommodation unsuitable. In a review into Davey Lodge, there were concerns around the lack of balconies and kitchen and laundry facilities in rooms.

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