Human error led to Gold Coast mother and her daughter being released from hotel quarantine early: Police

A mum and her daughter were released from a quarantine hotel two days early after a spectacular stuff-up.

A GOLD Coast mother and her daughter were released from a Brisbane quarantine hotel two days early after a spectacular bungle, which sparked a desperate search throughout the state’s southeast to find them.

But Queensland Police say it was “human error” that led to the early release of the teenage girl and her mother on the weekend, who had spent 12 days in hotel quarantine after returning from New Zealand on November 30.

It’s understood the pair were released from Brisbane’s Pullman Airport Hotel on Saturday morning and were able to return to their northern Gold Coast home, sending authorities into high alert ­following the incident.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Peter Wallis

A major search for the pair later ensued, the Bulletin understands.

The mother and daughter have since returned a negative COVID-19 test and are completing their final days of quarantine at home after Queensland Health gave them the green light.

The mix-up appeared to have stemmed from Annastacia Palaszczuk’s confusing Friday Breakfast TV announcement where she revealed travellers from New Zealand could enter Queensland without quarantining from 1am Saturday.

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It was later clarified that those on “green” flights, that include only passengers who have been in New Zealand for at least a stretch of 14-days, could avoid the mandatory quarantine.

The first green flight to Queensland from New Zealand is not until Wednesday.

The Queensland Police Service confirmed in a statement: “The release was a human error involving the distinction between green and red flights from New Zealand into Brisbane,”.

“Queensland Health are aware of the location and continue to monitor (them).

“Both the teenager and mother had negative entry and exit test results whilst in the quarantine hotel.

Police outside a Gold Coast quarantine hotel in November. Picture: Scott Powick

“The criteria under which a person travelling from New Zealand into Brisbane can be released early from quarantine has been reinforced to members working within the quarantine hotels.”

On Saturday, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said all of Queensland’s COVID-19 cases in the past 88 days were from overseas travellers and detected in hotel quarantine.

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Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Picture: Tara Croser.

“The risk is simply too high to end their quarantine early,” she said.

Police have repeatedly stated the importance of hotel quarantine in keeping COVID-19 out of Queensland.

Until now it has been one of the few states to have successfully managed the program.

Queensland has 21 active cases, eight of which are on the Gold Coast – but in quarantine.