Australian citizen tests positive to COVID-19 after returning from India

The passenger was on board a flight that arrived from India into Darwin on Saturday.

An Australian citizen who arrived back into the country from India has tested positive for COVID-19.

The passenger was one of more than 70 on board the repatriated Qantas flight that landed at Darwin’s RAAF base on Saturday.

They were then transported to quarantine in Howard Springs, where they returned the positive test.

Expatriates collected their luggage from their flight from Delhi. Picture: ADF

Details about the latest case emerged on Monday morning.

The Northern Territory’s acting chief health officer Dr Charles Pain said other passengers from the flight were also undergoing further testing.

“I have news this morning that probably only one - they‘re still subject to further testing - but only one person has tested positive in that group,” he said.

Dr Pain said it demonstrated that the testing done in India had been effective.

“It has had the effect that we intended, that people wouldn’t come on the flights if they were positive,” he said.

Passengers leave RAAF BASE Darwin for quarantine at Howard Springs as the first repatriation flight after the travel ban from India was lifted this morning. Picture Glenn Campbell

Saturday’s flight was the first of several repatriation flights to land in Australia following a travel ban on anyone coming from the COVID-ravaged country.

Nearly half of the 150 passengers hoping to board that flight were turned away after testing positive to the virus or being deemed close contacts to a case.

Shortly after, claims emerged the Indian laboratory that tested several Australians for COVID‐19 before they boarded the flight had its accreditation suspended in April.

Passengers from the Qantas flight arrive by bus at the Howard Springs facility. Picture: Steven Hoare/Getty Images

The test results led to several people being banned from flying home, who later tested negative for the virus.

Qantas is now investigating the claims to ensure the Indian facilities meets its regulatory standards.

“We have reiterated to our diagnostic agency that they must ensure that any laboratory they use has all current and appropriate accreditations,” a spokeswoman said.

“We continue to work with DFAT (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to ensure the process is working as it should.”

Dr Pain said while it was understandably disappointing for those who had been temporarily stopped from returning home, the health advice had to come first.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited the Howard Springs quarantine facility but is yet to greenlight any others in regional areas. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“We have to hold firm on the position...we can’t put people on the plane who are positive,” he said.

“It‘s not good for them and it’s clearly not a sensible thing to do in terms of the overall public health impact on Australia.

It is not known when the next flight from India will arrive into Darwin, however, Dr Pain said NT health authorities had been liaising with Qantas and DFAT to ensure more people could return on subsequent trips.

“It was a great surprise to see the high numbers (of positive cases) last time and I’m sure they will be prepared for that next time,” he said.

“They will put people back in the queue and they will need to identify people who will stand in.”