Queensland’s battle with the UK strain of COVID-19 is far from over after a new risk emerged.
The state’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young has confirmed a case from Victoria had moved up to Queensland, and subsequent genome sequence results revealed the traveller is positive for the UK variant.
The woman travelled from the United Kingdom to Victoria on Boxing Day, testing positive to COVID-19 one day after arrival whilst in hotel quarantine.
She was released after just 10 days and caught a flight to Brisbane on January 5.
Dr Young said the state is working to identify any close contacts which may need to be investigated, however the risk is “extremely low” given the woman is “right at the end of her potential infectious period”.
Victoria claims it was following national health guidelines having released the woman without an exit test and prior to the completion of genomic testing.
Australia currently has 303 active cases of COVID-19 including both locally and overseas acquired infections.