June 21, 2021
Contact tracing is continuing for the new case of community transmission of COVID-19 announced in Queensland on Sunday.
A public health alert for Brisbane was issued by Queensland Health after an international cabin crew member tested positive.
The woman, in her 30s, completed 14 days of hotel quarantine at 9:00am on Saturday morning.
During quarantine, she returned negative tests. However, a follow-up test shortly after she left hotel quarantine on Saturday as part of routine aircrew surveillance, came back positive on Saturday evening.
It was initially feared she had the very contagious Delta variant, however that was later ruled out.
However, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young urged anyone who had been at sites visited by the positive case to isolate, fill in the contact tracing form on the Queensland Health website and await advice.
“It’s good news the case isn’t the highly transmissible Delta variant, but we do still need to take every precaution,” she said.
“The woman has visited several locations, including the Airport DFO, Brisbane CBD, and a restaurant in Ellen Grove.
“We are urgently contact tracing people with whom she shared a shuttle bus, at her accommodation, and at the restaurant.
“I am asking that anyone who was at the Airport DFO between 4:00pm and 4:30pm, to isolate at home for the time being.
“Also anyone who was in the Brisbane CBD between 5:00pm and 6:00pm should monitor for symptoms; the risk is lower because it is outdoors.
“The woman was at dinner at an Ellen Grove restaurant when notified of her positive test, and proceeded directly to hospital.”
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UPDATE: It has been confirmed the Brisbane COVID-19 case reported above is the Alpha variant.
Queensland Health has also confirmed the transmission is likely to have occurred in hotel quarantine.
“We have to take all variants seriously but given this one is Alpha, it reduces the risk to the community as opposed to the more contagious Delta strain we had initially suspected that is now circulating through parts of Sydney,” Dr Jeannette Young said.
“As a result of reviewing the CCTV footage, we’ve been able to downgrade the risk associated with DFO Brisbane (Airport) and we now ask anyone who attended between 4:00pm and 4:30pm on Saturday (June 19) to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild.
“The exception is the Cotton On store where anyone who visited between 4:10pm and 4:30pm must quarantine and complete the online contact tracing form.
“We have added the Hamilton Harbour Residences to the contact tracing list for the duration of the day (June 19), as there is a possibility non-residents may have visited throughout the day and used the same lifts as the positive case.
“We are continuing our contact tracing efforts, including reviewing CCTV footage.
“To date, more than 63 contacts have been identified, including 50 close contacts. Close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days from their exposure.”
- External link: Queensland contact tracing sites
[UPDATED]
