Coronavirus: new suspected case on Christmas Island
A second Australian has been isolated in quarantine pending the result of a coronavirus test.
A second Australian has been isolated in quarantine on Christmas Island pending the result of a coronavirus test.
The Australian photographed two female army personnel delivering the adult’s test sample to a man in army fatigues who took it to a waiting Hercules at the Christmas Island airport on Monday. The foam box handed over shortly after 3.30pm local time (7.30pm AEDT) was marked “diagnostic specimen”. It was addressed to the Department of Microbiology. Westmead, in Sydney.
The Australian has confirmed the specimen was being sent to the mainland for a coronavirus test. It came from an adult who was being isolated in their room at the Christmas Island detention centre until the test result was back, hopefully within 48 hours.
The likelihood that the person had coronavirus was considered low and the test was described as “precautionary”.
It is the second known test ordered since the first Australians were rescued from the coronavirus hotspot of Wuhan on Monday, February 3.
There are now a total of 544 Australian citizens and permanent residents waiting out 14 days of quarantine on Christmas Island and in a former workers’ camp in Howard Springs outside Darwin.
A girl was isolated in her accommodation at the Christmas Island detention centre on Friday after developing flu-like symptoms that prompted the Australian Medical Assistance Team to order a coronavirus test. The team learned on Sunday the test result was negative.
Medics screen Australians in quarantine daily with basic questions and by taking their temperature using an ear thermometer. Tests are ordered only when medics detect red flags.
The Australian Medical Assistance Team on Christmas Island received parts for a diagnostic machine on Monday that would soon allow them to do coronavirus tests without needing to send samples to the mainland.
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