City May Use Hotels for Quarantine
Modeled on Chicago's program to slow COVID-19's spread, provide economic support.
Empty hotel rooms could soon house those infected with COVID-19.
The City of Chicago announced an initiative Monday that would lease at least 2,000 hotel rooms across five hotels for those who have been diagnosed with or exposed to the disease, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Those in the hotels would be housed on restricted floors, visited only by Chicago health staff and provided with three meals a day.
The City of Milwaukee could eventually implement a similar strategy. “We have received a number of offers from area hotel operators so we have been organizing this info for use,” wrote Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik in response to a question from Urban Milwaukee during a media briefing on the pandemic. “We are beyond thankful for the outpouring of support and resources from the business community.” Specific hotels were not identified.
Chicago plans to pay $175 a day per room as part of its proposal, including three meals prepared by hotel staff and distributed by health care workers.
“By no means is this going to make a hotel money,” said Michael Jacobson, CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, in a story by the Chicago Tribune. “But if it can at least help them weather the storm when it comes to paying property taxes and maintaining at least a few staff without having to layoff 100 percent, the hotels see that as an opportunity to try to take care of their employees.”
Chicago officials said the proposal could also be expanded to house hospital workers that want to avoid spreading the virus to their families.
Chicago officials billed the plan as a first-of-its-kind effort because hotel workers will still operate much of the hotel, including the front desk, kitchen and cleaning functions.
If Milwaukee or Wisconsin adopts the program it would be at least the second action taken modeled after Illinois. Mayor Tom Barrett said Monday that the city’s “safe at home” order is modeled after a similar order in Illinois.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits, all detailed here.
More about the Coronavirus Pandemic
- WI Daily: 308 New COVID-19 Cases - Urban Milwaukee - Mar 1st, 2021
- Wisconsin Anticipates First Shipment of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Mar 1st, 2021
- Marquette University announces in-person plans for fall 2021 semester - Marquette University - Mar 1st, 2021
- Dane County Drops Most Fines Against Dance Studio - Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty - Mar 1st, 2021
- Back in the News: Uline Workers Suffer Higher COVID-19 Rates - Bruce Murphy - Mar 1st, 2021
- Groups Now Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Mar 1st, 2021
- WI Daily: 464 New COVID-19 Cases - Urban Milwaukee - Feb 28th, 2021
- WI Daily: 689 New COVID-19 Cases - Urban Milwaukee - Feb 27th, 2021
- HDA Statement on FDA Authorization of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine - Healthcare Distribution Alliance - Feb 27th, 2021
- Gallagher Statement on Pelosi’s Payout - U.S. Rep Mike Gallagher - Feb 27th, 2021
Read more about Coronavirus Pandemic here
This is a cool initiative, I hope it can come together quickly, but it would make more sense as a statewide program, not just Milwaukee.