The tightly packed row of 6 officers, each interviewing a passenger, is probably the most perplexing thing about this new arrangement. It goes against all social distancing principles, despite the fact that it’s supposed to be COVID safe measure.
Well it's good to know that it wasn't laid on just for us "North Islanders", when we arrived back a few weeks ago - they're applying it to locals as wellI arrived back at HBA this afternoon, my first trip away/return in 13 months and in the COVID era. So its time for another rant.
The Qantas B717 parked at the south-eastern end of the apron, and normally you'd walk into the SE end of the terminal, and walk the length of the terminal to the baggage claim area, at the other end of the linear terminal building.
But with COVID, we have to go through health checks. So. You get directed down cattle-yard barriered lanes OUTSIDE of the terminal building, to enter at the very far end and then go through entry health checks. We walked over 350 metres, outside! The weather was OK, but Tasmania's winter can be cold and rainy (sometimes spring and autumn too, for that matter). Bloody third world airport.
Sure, its State Govt mandated health checks, but its indicative of the whole airport that they shove you down those lanes that wouldn't be out of place in any cattle-yard, and have to do it outside because of the abysmal state of the terminal building.
I went through Victoria and SA over the weekend. One Vic entry had no arrival entry checks at all (there is a permit you had to have in advance); the return journey had paperwork being checked by socially-distanced officials at the entry gate lounge; very easy. On entry to Adelaide, I had to scan a QR code and acknowledge an e-mail I received that day on my phone. At Hobart you:
* First stand for a temperature check
* Walk past a bunch of people doing something, but it looked a bit chaotic
* Get directed to one of about 6 officers, cheek by jowl, asking questions if I'd been in WA recently, scan the QR code I had e-mailed to me and I was asked to take a photo of a local health hotline! Then to baggage claim (or, in my case, HLO, I had to walk back 3/4 the length of the terminal and then turn off to the car[park!!
What an absolute shambles.
I walked about 950m today at the airport, probably 900m outside.
I arrived back at HBA this afternoon, my first trip away/return in 13 months and in the COVID era. So its time for another rant.
The Qantas B717 parked at the south-eastern end of the apron, and normally you'd walk into the SE end of the terminal, and walk the length of the terminal to the baggage claim area, at the other end of the linear terminal building.
But with COVID, we have to go through health checks. So. You get directed down cattle-yard barriered lanes OUTSIDE of the terminal building, to enter at the very far end and then go through entry health checks. We walked over 350 metres, outside! The weather was OK, but Tasmania's winter can be cold and rainy (sometimes spring and autumn too, for that matter
Sure, its State Govt mandated health checks, but its indicative of the whole airport that they shove you down those lanes that wouldn't be out of place in any cattle-yard, and have to do it outside because of the abysmal state of the terminal building.
I went through Victoria and SA over the weekend. One Vic entry had no arrival entry checks at all (there is a permit you had to have in advance); the return journey had paperwork being checked by socially-distanced officials at the entry gate lounge; very easy. On entry to Adelaide, I had to scan a QR code and acknowledge an e-mail I received that day on my phone. At Hobart you:
* First stand for a temperature check
* Walk past a bunch of people doing something, but it looked a bit chaotic
* Get directed to one of about 6 officers, cheek by jowl, asking questions if I'd been in WA recently, scan the QR code I had e-mailed to me and I was asked to take a photo of a local health hotline! Then to baggage claim (or, in my case, HLO, I had to walk back 3/4 the length of the terminal and then turn off to the car[park!!
What an absolute shambles.
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I walked about 950m today at the airport, probably 900m outside.
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