Air conditioning is not to blame for Covid cluster at Grand Chancellor hotel claims a federal MP

Air conditioning is NOT to blame for super-spreader event at Grand Chancellor hotel claims a federal MP – and the suggestion is ‘fruitcake stuff’

  • Andrew Laming has blasted a suggestion about spread of coronavirus at hotel 
  • He says the virus spreading through the air conditioning is ‘fruitcake stuff’   
  • Comments come after virus cluster at Brisbane’s Hotel Grand Chancellor  

A federal politician has accused Queensland‘s chief health officer of ‘fruitcake stuff’ for suggesting coronavirus could have been spread at a Brisbane quarantine hotel through the air conditioning.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor was shut down last week when six people linked to the quarantine facility tested positive for the more contagious UK Covid-19 strain.

A cleaner and her partner, who are among the six, were contagious while in the community and triggered a snap three-day lockdown in Brisbane.

A police investigation has found no evidence of any breach but noted there were no CCTV cameras on level seven where the outbreak occurred.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has said the virus may have been spread through air conditioning in the building. 

Federal MP Andrew Laming (pictured) said suggestions coronavirus was spread through the air conditioning at Brisbane’s Grand Chancellor Hotel was ‘fruitcake stuff’ 

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young (pictured) said the air conditioning could be how coronavirus spread through the hotel which was housing returning travellers in mandatory quarantine

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young (pictured) said the air conditioning could be how coronavirus spread through the hotel which was housing returning travellers in mandatory quarantine

Andrew Laming, the Federal MP for Bowman in Brisbane’s south-east, says her claim seems like a red herring to distract from a possible quarantine breach.

‘A CHO talking about “it could be in the air conditioning”, mate, that is fruitcake stuff,’ he told AAP.

‘These guys are just saying whatever it takes to get through.’

Mr Laming said the lack of CCTV footage was a ‘disaster’ for the public but convenient for the state government.

He said the fact police can’t comment on the investigation also suited the government.

‘These games are annoying because we’re trying to protect the state today,’ Mr Laming said. 

Police are now investigating how Covid-19 was able to spread at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane (pictured)

Police are now investigating how Covid-19 was able to spread at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane (pictured)

Returned travellers staying at the hotel were moved out of the facility and placed in alternative accommodation as part of an operation overseen by police (pictured) and health authorities

Returned travellers staying at the hotel were moved out of the facility and placed in alternative accommodation as part of an operation overseen by police (pictured) and health authorities 

‘So what did we learn on January 2? The answer is nothing – there’s no information, no CCTV, no sworn statements and no nothing.

‘The whole thing is incredibly murky.’

Mr Laming also said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s proposal to move quarantine to outback camps seemed like another distraction.

He said it would be incredibly expensive and pointless if the cluster was caused by a simple protocol breach.

‘The fact that no state followed her is evidence that it was just a really outlandish claim to blame hotel quarantine,’ he added.

Restrictions in Greater Brisbane are on track to ease on Friday after the state recorded another day of no cases of community transmission.

The returned travellers in mandatory quarantine at the hotel (pictured) were evacuated last week after a Covid cluster emerged

The returned travellers in mandatory quarantine at the hotel (pictured) were evacuated last week after a Covid cluster emerged

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed three new cases were all acquired overseas and in hotel quarantine on Tuesday, including one woman who returned from South Africa and two flight crew who have already departed Australia.

‘We are on track to have those restrictions lifted, we’ve only got two more days to go so fingers crossed that all will be very good for Friday morning,’ she said.

The streak without community transmission means Greater Brisbane is on track to revert to pre-lockdown whereby masks won’t be mandatory, venues can operate at increased capacity and dancing is allowed.