Coronavirus: travellers to Hong Kong sickened by mould, dust, stains and clogged bathtubs in filthy quarantine hotel rooms
- Rooms haven’t been cleaned properly, says respiratory specialist shown photos on social media
- Hard to please everyone, says hotel manager, blaming quarantined guests for leaving a mess
Singaporean Anthony* and his wife were greeted by a foul smell of mould when they stepped into their room at the Empire Hotel in Causeway Bay to begin their 14-day quarantine in Hong Kong.
He had a pack of disinfectant wipes, but quickly realised that almost every surface and corner of the room was filthy. There was mould everywhere, stains on the walls and visible dirt on the carpet.
“We saw the problems in the room immediately as we walked in,” said Anthony, a 43-year-old IT manager. “When I picked up the phone to call the front desk, my hands got dirty with dust.”
A WhatsApp group of 22 guests at the hotel at the same time showed that the situation was no better in other rooms, he added.
The hotel offered two dehumidifiers, but did not let them change rooms, even after Anthony and his wife described their situation on social media with photos.
Anthony said he had no choice but to book the Empire Hotel at HK$1,500 (US$193) per night after calling all 36 quarantine hotels one by one before his trip to visit relatives.