A man desperate to see his mother before she dies from a brain tumour is being denied permission to leave hotel quarantine.
The 66-year-old grandmother has just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.
“They told us if we didn’t intervene that she could die within a matter of days or weeks,” he said.
“I’m just a son that’s trying to get back his mother and hold her hand in her terminal illness.”
Mr Cioffi managed to get a flight home from Europe where he lives.
He had originally been flying to Adelaide, but his plane was diverted to Brisbane when the South Australia Premier Steven Marshall halted all flights for two days last week amid the week-long snap lockdown.
Mr Cioffi is now on day six of his quarantine in Queensland and has tested negative for the virus three times.
He has also had one vaccination.
He’s been granted permission by Queensland Health to leave quarantine to travel to South Australia, but SA Health has refused to let him in.
Mr Cioffi says he has even arranged a flight with charity Angel Flight to get him to Adelaide.
He said he wants to quarantine there but be allowed to visit his mother.
“I’m not stating that I want to break any of the rules, I just want to be transferred to the quarantine and do the rest of my quarantine in Adelaide and have sterile corridor to visit my mum,” he said.
“I’m just reaching out to the compassion of SA Health to give me the same privileges that have been afforded to football players and their families.”
SA Health told 9News that Mr Cioffi’s mother’s doctors had been consulted.
Lockdown tightens for millions across Sydney
They said his vaccination status was not being considered as part of his exemption application.
