Are airline crews now the weakest link in Australia's COVID quarantine system?

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An epidemiologist says airline crew members' exemption from state-run hotel quarantine procedures is a 'potential loophole in the system' that Australia cannot afford, and thinks the risk should be re-assessed in every state.

Incoming airline crew members should be treated the same way as international passengers and required to stay in high-standard quarantine hotels, an epidemiologist says.

"They should be subject to the same conditions as arriving passengers — so either the police or the ADF actually supervise the transport to a hotel, and then the police supervise the whole experience in the hotel," he said. She said there had been no known positive cases among Australian-based international flight crews since earlier this year, around the time of the Ruby Princess debacle.

"It's really important for the infrastructure and for the recovery of Australia … so however and whatever needs to be done to ensure the Australian borders stay open and Australians are allowed to travel around between the states is probably a priority at the moment," she said.

 

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