People are directed into quarantine isolation if they have recently arrived or returned from overseas travel, or they have been identified as a close contact of person diagnosed with COVID-19. These people are required to stay isolated except for emergencies or when seeking medical care, and to monitor themselves for symptoms.
Hotels and other accommodation facilities may host people in quarantine isolation. The following guidance is provided to support such facilities and minimize the risk to staff. Facilities should provide education to appropriate staff, and seek assistance if there are concerns. All staff should be made aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and know what to do if they develop any of these symptoms.
No specific cleaning is required post quarantine in hotels for asymptomatic people who never got sick.
For the purpose of this guidance it is assumed that the isolated person occupying the room to be cleaned is not in the same room during while it is being cleaned. They can be asked to wait in an en-suite bathroom or balcony, if available. It these options are not possible, the isolated person may stay in the room being cleaned provided they are wearing a surgical mask and maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres or more from the person performing the cleaning.
Coronaviruses are killed by a number of chemical disinfectants readily available from consumer and commercial sources, and likely to be used already by hotels. Examples of appropriate disinfectant solutions are listed in the table below.
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
1000 parts per million of available chlorine, usually achieved by a 1 in 50 dilution of 5% liquid bleach
Granular chlorine
e.g. Det-Sol 5000 or Diversol, to be diluted as per manufacturer's instructions
Alcohol
e.g. Isopropyl 70%, ethyl alcohol 70-80%
Ideally, assign one person who is in good health and has no underlying chronic medical conditions or immunocompromising conditions to undertake cleaning.
Cleaning staff should immediately report breaches in their personal protective equipment (e.g. torn gloves) or any close contact with the guest to their supervisor immediately.