Comis Hotel

Summary

The request sought details on the decision-making process and professional advice regarding the use of Comis Hotel as a quarantine facility. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that they made the final decision based on specific operational criteria and confirmed that while no specific legal advice was sought, public health bodies provided input on suitability.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure made the final decision to use Comis Hotel as a quarantine facility.
• Selection criteria included having 50 or more rooms, a functioning restaurant, and secure outdoor exercise space.
• The facility required the ability to manage at least two separate zones to prevent contact between different quarantine groups.
• No specific legal advice was sought regarding the suitability of the premises.
• DHSC and Public Health provided input to the service specification and agreed on arrangements to meet public health guidance.

Data Disclosed

• 2020-08-25
• 2020-09-09
• 1445585
• 50
• two zones
• IM1 2RF
• 01624 686785

Original Request

1. Who made the final decision to use the Comis Hotel as a forced quarantine facility? 2. Was any legal advice sought or given as to the suitability of the premises? 3. Was any medical advice sought or given as the the suitability of the premises?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1445585 9 September 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 25 August 2020 and which states (sic):

"1. Who made the final decision to use the Comis Hotel as a forced quarantine facility? 2. Was any legal advice sought or given as to the suitability of the premises? 3. Was any medical advice sought or given as the the suitability of the premises?"

1. This Department made the final decision to use the Comis Hotel as a quarantine facility. The main criteria for selection were: • 50 or more rooms must be available • There must be an open and functioning restaurant at the time they were approached • There must be the facility for an outdoor exercise space which could be made secure • To enable the Island to safely accept new groups of returning residents every week, they had to be able to create and manage separately, at least two zones so that a group in their second week would have no contact with a group beginning their first. 2. No. As previously stated in an earlier FOI response, “The Comis Hotel is registered to provide accommodation and food. The registration process ensures that all legal, health and safety and accommodation quality standards have been adhered to”. 3. It is not clear what you mean by “medical advice”. However, both DHSC and Public Health provided input to the service specification for the accommodation. They also agreed the arrangements that needed to be in place to meet public health guidance at the time and as circumstances changed and that guidance was varied.

Please quote the reference number 1445585 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team