. Plus they didnt need to make the changes they are before resuming, could have been done in parallel.
And how exactly could that be done in parallel more than it was?
While one could argue about how long it took to resume at a greater capacity (Some HQ operated throughout) the process of testing every room and the entire HVAC system takes time. And if they were pressure testing each room the equipment to do this type of test, and the experienced and expert staff and consultants that perform these tests is not in abundance in Australia. You also certainly cannot test those rooms and HVAC systems and still operate a building for HQ.
Then to decide what work should be done, then to contract the works and and obtain necessary skilled staff staff and materials also takes time. For example it has been stated that the HVAC has had the airflow increased. In most cases that will need new more powerful fans. They have to be sourced and fitted, tested and their operation fine tuned. The software operate and monitor these HVAC Systems will also have been needed to have been at least updated, and quite probably substantially monitored. Then there are the flyers, damping systems, fresh air intakes etc etc
After that they would probably have checked the works performed have had the desired outcome by again pressure testing a representative sample of the rooms.
Note that even if all the then current stock was abandoned and new hotels swapped to, that that also takes time, even at the lesser previous standards which have now been moved away from. You have to source the new properties (which now has been done as new HQ stock has been added), those properties have to be transitioned out of their previous use and commitments, Especially now that a more rigorous ventilation testing process is to be used for all new HQ. Also rushing to swap to hotels that had not been properly checked or commissioned could have caused more problems.
What could possibly have been done may been have to continue to operate some more of the non medical HQ (as the medical-HQ facilities had already last year been commissioned at a much higher standard late last year). However the net gain would over time not have been really greater as that would have meant shutting them down now. And that also means still operating facilities that they had lost faith in.
