Quarantine might seem an odd subject for an architectural blog, but it does involve the experience of space and place in a unique context that exposes certain matters that might otherwise remain unobserved. The room and the food have been reviewed and commented upon, as have the stranded numbers waiting to be processed – see: https://voussoirs.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-mathematics-of-stranded-numbers.html; but there remains yet another matter that needs to be considered: the issue of the air. The architectural experience is diverse and complex, engaging life in a myriad of ways. Air is not always in consideration, yet it is critical.
The cry has already been made that 'hotel quarantine' frequently means that returning Australians are placed in sealed, air-conditioned rooms with no opening windows, no access to a balcony, and no time out of the room for open-air exercise. There have been cases where travellers have been placed in internal rooms, with not even a kettle to make a cup of tea or coffee. It is a situation that should never have occurred, but it has. Just what is Queensland Health thinking about to allow this to happen? It is serious enough to have anyone locked up in an air-conditioned room for 14 days without any fresh air, but to deny folk natural light is another step into what can be seen as abuse, all in the name of health.
Folk might think one should be thankful to have a the comforts of an air-conditioned room with all meals provided, when external temperatures are 30C and over, but it is the quality of the air that is important, just as the quality of the food is critical. Our experience has left us pondering, wondering just what we were breathing.
Spatially, the air was blasted into the room from the entry bulkhead, aiming its chilled volume the full length of the room, along the passage space at the end of the beds. The average temperature seemed to remain reasonably constant, but when one was sitting at the table, one was in the direct line of the primal blast. In order to overcome the chance of a chill, one had to wrap up in a blanket. This was not a sophisticated system to be nonchalantly enjoyed; one had to eat and play dominoes awkwardly cloaked. Comfort seemed to have been sacrificed for economy, perhaps in the hope that every occupancy would be a short, eventful distraction.
The awareness of our situation began when we asked for a vacuum cleaner to clean up our living space that, after one week, had started to show the usual detritus of everyday existence. Even a simple clean-up can change one’s spirit. After finishing the floor, it was noticed that there was the usual deposit of grit, dust, crumbs, and sundry grey particles in the base of the collection case, along with a large, white puffy sphere that had gathered separately above this muck.
Not much was thought about this until it was noticed the next day that, overnight, the mobile phone had a fine covering of white particles that had settled on it. What might this be? The fluffy ball was recalled. Looking around, a similar covering could be seen on most ledges. The finger wiped the window sill and collected a small white puffy mass that recalled the refuse in the vacuum cleaner.
A closer look at the carpet revealed this white substance had collected along the edges, and behind the curtains, in places not easily reached by the cleaner. This white stuff was everywhere. What might it be?
The carpet was made up of dense, synthetic tiles that were dark in colour and not fluffy. The blankets were fluffy, but were cream, and seem to have been beyond the age when fine particles might float off in any quantity. The curtains were a smooth, two-tone, firm synthetic; the bed linen was cotton/poly and did not shed anything; and our clothing was all cotton. Where might this fluff come from? The towels were checked, but nothing came off these either.
One looked closely at the fine particles that could be seen on our clothing, on the darker trousers; the black cotton top; even on the shirt around the collar. Could this be coming from the air conditioning? With so much fluff floating around, we had to be breathing it. One recalled seeing air conditioning filters that were white. Gosh!
Now that we had noticed this situation, we kept an eye on things. Yes, the sill that had been wiped one day was again covered the next day, as was the mobile phone screen. Clothes dropped on the floor got covered in these particles. What on earth was going on?
Bits were collected and taken with us. We have yet to resolve this matter; but it does highlight the importance of fresh air. Why is Queensland Health so careless about quarantine conditions and people’s health, and environmental health too?
The obvious question is: if this stuff comes from the air conditioning system, then why not the virus? Neither is good for anyone's health.
See:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/28/do-you-drink-bottled-water-read-this
https://voussoirs.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-quarantine-room-analysis.html
https://voussoirs.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-mathematics-of-stranded-numbers.html
https://voussoirs.blogspot.com/2021/01/quarantine-cuisine-photographic-diary.html
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