EDITORIAL: Getting sick at quarantine hotel after less than sanitary conditions discovered

LETTER TO EDITOR

Recently we have had to stay in a local quarantine facility and were very disappointed at the quality of the Holiday Inn Hotel – in particular the AC vents. This is our second time quarantine and the first time was at another facility and there were no issues here. However, after a stay in room 1203 I must say that we are beyond disappointed.

It is disappointing because you avoid Covid in the US only to come home and be subjected to these conditions in quarantine and become sick.  At the end of quarantine I was so sick I thought I had Covid which was beyond stressful.

No one calls to check on you and we feel sorry for the quarantiners that are isolating alone, although I am sure people are able to communicate with family.

The hotel has no tourists therefore it should be easy for either their staff or Travel Cayman to check daily or every other day.  The only time we heard from anyone was the day before PCR testing to let us know a time.  Our A/C technician looked at the photos and was shocked.  He had no words other than “Dear Lord”.

Our daughter's room was in the same state as well. It looks like vents and room ducting has not been cleaned in years! Imagine COVID-positive persons are staying at that facility.  How can we feel safe that the place is being properly disinfected and cleaned? Shouldn't filters be changed more regularly now with a highly contagious respiratory illness?

The food was atrocious and after the third day, they give you no water with your meal.

By contrast, at Wyndham, the food was fantastic and a bottle of water was provided with every single meal.  They also called and checked in with me randomly from the front desk.  And the place was spotless.  I could walk on the floor without my feet turning black.  At Holiday Inn we had to wipe down furniture every day because dust would accumulate on the dark-colored furniture.  We had to wear shoes because the floor was filthy.

Finally, the attitude of the hotel staff was horrible.  Everything was like a favor to us even requesting two additional pillows for the bed.  We only got one.  So I had mine brought from home. I have to say security/police were always friendly and responsive when we were on the balcony.

Ultimately the most disturbing condition was the A/C system.  It is unnecessary for people to be subjected to these conditions especially when they are held in a room for 11 to 15 days with nowhere else to go.

And it seems they have received complaints before and nothing has been rectified. Perhaps this will finally highlight the conditions publically and someone will care to make some changes.