July 23, 2021
Queensland Health has issued a public alert for more COVID-19 contact tracing locations in Banyo, Sandstone Point, Caboolture and Virginia.
This follows the announcement on Friday morning of a new locally acquired case.
The Qantas flight attendant, aged in her 30s, started showing symptoms on Tuesday, July 13, but was only tested on July 21.
“A positive result was recorded late Thursday afternoon and the patient is now being managed in a Queensland Health COVID-19 hospital,” Chief Health Office Dr Jeannette Young said.
“Global standards set by the WHO determine a person’s infectious period to begin two days prior to showing symptoms which is why the infectious period for this particular case has been backdated to Sunday, July 11.”
It is not known how the woman contracted the disease by genome sequencing has shown it is identical to about 60 Delta variant sequences from Sydney.
“The COVID-19 positive case is a flight attendant for small haul regional flights, including those that transport people to and from regional NSW,” Dr Young said.
“Since the infectious period began, the case worked on six flights.
“We have identified a total of 267 passengers which may have been in close contact; 250 of those have already been contacted by the public health unit and 166 have been tested.
“We are aware she has been in contact from people in various communities in Queensland including Longreach, Hervey Bay and Gladstone.”
A pop-up testing facility has been set up at Longreach and hours extended at facilities in Gladstone and Hervey Bay.
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