Covid-19 Australia: Virgin flights to Sydney and Brisbane issued urgent health alert

Urgent alert for two busy Virgin Australia flights after an infected flight attendant travelled between Brisbane and Sydney

  • Two busy Virgin flights added to Queensland’s growing list of high-risk sites
  • An infected crew member travelled between Brisbane and Sydney on June 26
  • Passengers on flights have been asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days
  • It comes as the state records three new local infections linked to existing cases

Two busy Virgin flights between Sydney and Brisbane have been added to Queensland’s expanding list of exposure sites. 

Public health teams this afternoon have added two flights a Virgin crew member attended worked while infectious on Saturday June 26. 

One of the flights is believed to be Virgin flight VA924 which left Brisbane at 8:05am and landed in Sydney at 9:26am.

The other flight that was exposed to Covid-19 is the Virgin flight VA957 which left Sydney at 3:56pm and landed in Brisbane at 5:29pm. 

It is believed the infected crew member worked on several flights while infectious.  

Any passengers who were onboard these flights has been asked health authorities to get a Covid test and isolate even after receiving a negative result.

A Newstead apartment building has also been added to the list of Queensland’s high-risk sites after it was exposed to the virus on June 26. 

It comes as Queensland records three local cases on Wednesday that have been linked as close contacts of the existing cases. 

One is the brother of the woman who worked at Prince Charles Hospital and who was announced as a case on Tuesday. 

Another is a close contact of the Portuguese restaurant cluster identified last week, who was already in quarantine. 

A third one is a close contact of the Virgin crew member who flew to the Gold Coast, also last week. 

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Dr Young said on ABC Radio in North Queensland that the brother of the hospital worker had travelled with his sister and their family to Magnetic Island via Townsville. 

She confirmed they commuted to Magnetic Island by barge and didn’t go into the ferry terminal, reducing the risk of transmission on the island.   

The 19-year-old worked outside the Prince Charles Hospital’s Covid clinic, completing shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday last week despite experiencing symptoms of the virus.

She travelled with her family from Brisbane to Townsville on Thursday, June 24, before visiting Magnetic Island until Sunday June 27 and then returning to Brisbane.  

The woman had now been linked to 19 exposure sites. Newly added were visits to the Athlete’s Foot, Rebel Sport and Country Road stores at Chermside shopping centre,  and the Shaw Park Tennis Centre at Wooloowin on the afternoon of Monday, June 28. 

TEEN’S 10 INFECTIOUS DAYS IN QUEENSLAND

Sunday, June 20, 9.30am-10.30am: Sandgate Woolworths 

Bay Health Gym from 10am-12pm on the same day. 

Tues-Wed, June 22-23: Prince Charles Hospital from 3:00pm to 10:00pm on the Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

Thursday, June 24: The woman travelled with her family on VA369 from Brisbane to Townsville on at 10:00am.  They were in Brisbane Airport for an hour prior and then when they landed at Townsville airport and stayed at the Cafe Brewery in the airport for an hour

Thursday, June 24-Sun June 27: Magnetic Island. 

Sunday, June 27: Travelled from Magnetic Island back to Townsville. They went to the Sunday morning markets in Townsville City late morning, then caught VA374 from Townsville to Brisbane on Sunday, June 27, landing at Brisbane Airport at 2.55pm 

Yesterday, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the 19-year-old holidaymaker had been symptomatic since Monday, June 21. 

‘That’s 10 days in the community infectious… we need people to take this seriously.’ 

South-east Queensland, Townsville, Magnetic Island and neighbouring Palm Island remain in lockdown until 6pm Friday.     

Lockdown restrictions came into effect in Queensland last night, including a limit of 20 people at a funeral, 10 people at a wedding, and no dancing or singing. 

There will be a limit of two visitors in homes in addition to people already residing there. 

Restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to provide take away for home delivery.

Cinemas, entertainment and recreational venues, beauty and personal care services, and gyms will all be closed.  

The lockdown means Queenslanders in the affected areas can only leave home for one of four reasons: essential education and work that cannot be done at home or to obtain health care services, including getting a vaccination. 

Care or support of a vulnerable family member, essential shopping in your local community, or exercising with no more than one person are also permitted.

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