Coronavirus Australia: NSW Health issues alert to people on ‘infectious’ domestic flight

Authorities have warned of a new coronavirus case who travelled on a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Sydney, and was infectious at the time.

Health authorities have warned of an infectious traveller who was on board a Qantas flight between Brisbane and Sydney.

Addressing media on Friday, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant issued the health alert to those who were on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 which landed around 4.05pm.

The traveller on board the QF537 flight tested positive in Sydney overnight. Before flying, it is understood the person had spent 14 days in a Brisbane hotel in isolation.

“We do believe they may have been infectious on the flight,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

The passenger’s diagnosis is one of eight new cases for the state of NSW, following more than 12,000 tests.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said five of the new cases were from known sources, while four had been in hotel quarantine.

A passenger on board a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Sydney has tested positive to coronavirus. Picture: David Clark Photography

The Premier said contact tracing for passengers sitting near the person on the Qantas flight is under way.

Earlier, NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said states should look at opening their borders to NSW residents because the move is damaging the economy.

Mr Ayres called on Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania to scrap their travel bans by July 1.

“The simple fact of the matter is, we can’t stay closed forever,” he told the ABC.

“If states believe they can keep their economies functional while keeping their borders closed, I think that’s a mistake.

“Why you would deliberately close yourself off to that economic activity when it comes at a low health risk, I think deserves to be questioned,” he said.

“If you keep the borders closed, its an irrefutable fact, you are slowing down Australia’s economic activity.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants to see other states open their borders. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

NSW currently has had the highest number of coronavirus cases in Australia, with almost 7000 total infections since the pandemic began.

Just yesterday, the NSW Premier called on states to scrap border restrictions around the country.

“I often joke with the Queensland Premier that I’ll end up going to Auckland before I go to Brisbane if we continue the way we are going,” she said.