Overview
Brisbanites, if you've recently been to the international airport, keeping a close eye on your health and getting tested if the slightest COVID-19 symptoms arise could be in your future. Today, Friday, April 30, Queensland Health has issued advice relating to a new coronavirus case in the community — with a passenger from from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea breaching the Brisbane International Airport's green zone for overseas departures, and subsequently testing positive.
The breach occurred on Thursday, April 29, with anyone who was in the terminal between 9.45am–12pm that day requested to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if you feel unwell. The man and his travel partner spent just over two hours in the green departure zone — including at Hudson Cafe — rather than in the red zone that's for travellers from higher-risk countries.
Given that Australians can only travel to New Zealand at present under green zone arrangements — as part of the trans-Tasman bubble — just three flights between Brisbane and NZ yesterday morning are affected: Air New Zealand NZ202 from Brisbane to Christchurch, Air New Zealand NZ146 from Brisbane to Auckland and Qantas QF135 from Brisbane to Christchurch.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has declared the international terminal a venue of concern, though, but also advised that testing is being undertaken to ascertain whether the positive case was a historical rather than currently active case. Airport staff that came into contact with the man have been placed into quarantine.
This isn't the first time that a case in an airport has prompted such warnings, but it is the first in Brisbane — after Melbourne Airport was linked to a case in February and another this month.
As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
