International traveller in Cairns confirmed to have Omicron variant of Covid
Health authorities have confirmed an international traveller who tested positive to Covid-19 in hotel quarantine in Cairns has the Omicron variant.
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UPDATE: Health authorities have confirmed an international traveller who tested positive to Covid-19 in Cairns has the Omicron variant.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said genome sequencing had confirmed the variant in the traveller, who came from Nigeria and is now in hospital in Cairns after testing positive in hotel quarantine.
The man flew into Cairns on Friday, December 3.
“So that now means everyone on that flight has been deemed to be a close contact, not just those who were immediately seated around this individual,” Ms D’Ath said.
The flight was JQ950 from Sydney to Cairns on Friday, December 3.
However, Ms D’Ath said because it was a flight from a hot spot, the majority of people on the flight should already be quarantining in some form unless they had been transiting from elsewhere.
Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Peter Aitken said the man was well however there was a chance he could be moved to Townsville.
“We’re working through that whole case, the whole flight and identifying anyone there, and that’s under way at the present stage,” he said.
Dr Aitken said if the man was moved to Townsville, it would be a pre-emptive move to ensure capacity in the Far North as Covid patients cannot be in mixed wards.
He acknowledged that the Cairns ICU was a “struggle”.
“Remember it also serves a large population of the Cape,” he said.
“It’s balancing that capacity to maintain the care to the rest of the community as well as making sure (the Covid patient) is looked after in a safe and appropriate environment.”
Ms D’Ath said the traveller had been in Sydney before flying to Cairns within 14 days of their arrival into the country.
“Thankfully, because we still have our quarantine arrangements, that meant we were able to identify this case of Omicron in quarantine and not in the community,” she said.
The state recorded no new community cases overnight, however two were recorded in quarantine. One was an international traveller and one was from interstate.
EARLIER: Health authorities have revealed new Covid exposure sites in Cairns relate to an international traveller who flew interstate.
Queensland Health on Monday night released several exposure sites including Cairns Airport and a flight from Sydney to Cairns.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service confirmed the person tested positive during routine testing in hotel quarantine.
The person was infectious on the flight to Cairns on the morning of Friday, December 3.
“Tropical Public Health Services are contacting close contacts directly,” a CHHHS statement said.
“It has not been established what variant the person has, however further testing is under way.
“If you have any Covid-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested immediately.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told Brisbane radio on Tuesday the sites were listed after an international traveller flew via interstate.
“I’m confident that at this stage we don’t have any community transmission up there,” she said.
The new exposure sites for Cairns came just hours after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the Queensland border would open four days early, at 1am on Monday, December 13.
New mandates banning unvaccinated people from a broad range of venues will still come into effect from December 17.
More than 89 per cent of Cairns residents have now had one dose of the Covid vaccine, while 78.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Yarrabah continues to trail the region with just 48 per cent of residents double-jabbed.
CAIRNS EXPOSURE SITES
■ Jetstar flight JQ950 on Friday, December 3
■ Cairns Airport on Friday, December 3
For full details including times and risk categories, click here.
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