How COVID-19 positive passenger wrongly entered ‘green zone’ from ‘red zone’

Health authorities have revealed how an airport mishap allowed passengers into the wrong zone, potentially exposing almost 400 people to coronavirus.

An employee at Brisbane International Airport mistakenly directed a returned traveller, who later tested positive to COVID-19, into the wrong area where they mingled with passengers bound for New Zealand.

The airport was dubbed a “venue of concern” after it was revealed the passenger, who had travelled from Papua New Guinea, potentially exposed to the virus to 390 passengers who flew to New Zealand from Brisbane on three separate flights.

The infected man travelled from a “red zone” or high risk country but was inadvertently allowed to cross into the safe “green zone” area at Brisbane Airport, where passengers were waiting to travel to New Zealand.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young revealed the employee mistakenly directed the two travellers into the “green side” path at the airport instead of keeping them in the “red side”.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young has declared Brisbane International Airport a venue of concern. Picture: Liam Kidston.

The infected man and a companion unintentionally spent two hours in the green zone on Thursday morning before they were escorted to their rightful area.

“It was just an error in terms of that staff member, which the Brisbane Airport Corporation has apologised,” Dr Young told reporters on Friday afternoon.

“Errors happen. We know they happen, which is why we have all of those other mitigating factors in place, and they all worked so it was picked up.”

Dr Young said the incident had not led to “any significant risk” and authorities had thoroughly investigated to ensure there were no problems.

The pair dined at Hudson Cafe for about 90 minutes before using the toilets and visiting a second retail outlet.

Staff at the cafe have been asked to isolate for two weeks, but Dr Young said other customers in the cafe did not need to because of the cafe’s open space.

Affected passengers travelled on Air New Zealand NZ202 from Brisbane to Christchurch, Air New Zealand NZ146 from Brisbane to Auckland, and Qantas QF135 from Brisbane to Christchurch. Picture Glenn Hampson

Earlier on Friday, she declared the international terminal a venue of concern.

“Anyone who was in the terminal between 9.45am and midday on Thursday, 29 April 2021, should monitor their symptoms and get tested immediately if they feel unwell.

“Once the mistake was identified, the two passengers were tested for COVID-19.

“One man’s initial test was equivocal, meaning it was neither positive nor negative. Further testing revealed he is positive. The other passenger is negative.”

Dr Young said New Zealand authorities had been alerted to the error and the risk of Queenslanders becoming infected was low.

The three flights affected are Air New Zealand NZ202 from Brisbane to Christchurch, Air New Zealand NZ146 from Brisbane to Auckland, and Qantas QF135 from Brisbane to Christchurch.

“Staff who came into contact with this case have been placed into quarantine,” she said.

“We have advised the NZ Ministry of Health of the latest results, and they are taking their own protection measures.”

Two of today’s new cases were detected in hotel quarantine. One case was detected in Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal. #covid19au

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) April 29, 2021

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk took to social media on Friday morning to confirm one of the passengers had tested positive to COVID-19.

The two passengers who arrived on Thursday morning into the red zone were let into the area designated for New Zealand arrivals due to “human error”, Brisbane Airport Corporation confirmed.

They were eventually found by airport staff and returned to the red zone. Three “green” flights departed within the two-hour period to New Zealand, potentially exposing 390 passengers to COVID-19.

The pair had returned negative results before leaving Port Moresby, but a second test on Thursday returned a “weak positive” for one of the travellers.

Brisbane Airport confirmed there was ‘human error’ involved in the incident. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jono Searle

Dr Young earlier said the two passengers posed a low risk to others.

“While at the airport, they wore masks and socially distanced and neither has reported symptoms,” she said.

“They were in the wrong zone through no fault of their own, and we appreciate their patience and co-operation while we rule them out as cases.

“We’re also grateful for the prompt action by Brisbane Airport staff once the mistake was identified.”

On Thursday night the New Zealand Ministry of Health urged passengers who arrived on flights NZ202 (Brisbane to Christchurch), NZ146 (Brisbane to Auckland) and QF135 (Brisbane to Christchurch) to monitor their health for the next two weeks.

Queensland recorded two cases in hotel quarantine on Friday.

– with Emily Cosenza