Another asylum seeker in the facility has tested positive to COVID-19,bringing the outbreak tally to 21. Almost half of the 46 refugees at the hotel have tested positive.
Azizi’s lawyer,Daniel Taylor,told Justice Rolf Driver that his client was seeking orders from the court to be removed from the hotel to stay in a more appropriate quarantine facility.
“The safety of the applicants is being put at great risk and it remains at great risk,” he said.
“Their mental health is obviously direly affected,their physical health is obviously direly affected.
“The[Home Affairs] minister has not been clear whether the ... building is a residence or a quarantine facility or a detention facility. The closed environment is obviously extremely dangerous. COVID kills people.”
Mr Taylor said epidemiologists consulted by the applicants found that people who were COVID-positive should not be held at the hotel.