PICTURED: Australia’s youngest coronavirus victim, 30

Australia’s youngest coronavirus victim has been named as 30-year-old Nathan Turner, as officials probe whether he was infected by a nurse who broke lockdown rules. 

Nathan Turner was found dead at his home in Blackwater, Queensland, by his partner on Tuesday afternoon.  

The miner is the youngest person in Australia to die from the deadly respiratory infection, taking the national death toll to 103.   

He had not travelled outside his hometown of Blackwater, not known to have any other coronavirus infections, since February.   

Officials now suspect an infected nurse, already suspended from her job at an aged care facility, may have given him the virus. 

Nathan Turner (pictured) became the youngest person to die of COVID-19 in Australia, aged just 30

Mr Turner had a series of health problems and had been displaying symptoms in the weeks before his death, but was only tested after his body was found. 

Earlier this month, the unnamed nurse continued working at the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre despite having coronavirus symptoms.

The nurse is reported to have been contagious since May 3, and continued working with the elderly residents despite showing symptoms from May 5.  

She later tested positive, sparking a frantic testing blitz of the centre’s 200 vulnerable residents – all of whom tested negative.  

The nurse has been suspended and has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission over an alleged breach of public health directions.

It is now alleged she travelled 167km from Rockhampton to Blackwater, and may have infected Mr Turner – who had not left the area for months.

Nathan Turner (pictured) hadn't left his hometown of Blackwater since February, but still contracted COVID-19 and died on Tuesday

Nathan Turner (pictured) hadn’t left his hometown of Blackwater since February, but still contracted COVID-19 and died on Tuesday

Mining trucks are seen in Blackwater (pictured) where Mr Turner worked, but had not been at work since November

Mining trucks are seen in Blackwater (pictured) where Mr Turner worked, but had not been at work since November 

She was allegedly in the town on May 10, four days before she tested positive, according to The Australian. 

During a press conference held on Wednesday morning, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said it appeared the man had been ill for several weeks. 

‘He has a complicated medical history and that also needs to be worked through,’ she said. ‘Age is not a total predictor of people who are going to do badly.

‘The other thing is we don’t know the impact of the other medical issues he had. That will be something for the coroner to look at.

‘Whether or not COVID-19 was the precipitating cause for his death, that’s how we report it.’

Nathan Turner's partner was later taken to Blackwater Hospital (pictured) to be tested after developing symptoms of COVID-19

Nathan Turner’s partner was later taken to Blackwater Hospital (pictured) to be tested after developing symptoms of COVID-19

The man’s partner started displaying symptoms and has since been transferred to the Rockhampton Hospital where she’s being isolated and tested.  

The police and ambulance officers who attended the scene are also now in quarantine. 

His partner was working in the retail sector, with the Queensland government now undertaking urgent contact tracing.  

The victim has not worked since November and has not left the central Queensland town of since February.  

Health authorities are concerned that the man had never been tested for the virus, and are urging anybody living in Blackwater who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 to present to a testing clinic immediately.

Health Minister Steven Miles said fever clinics are being set up in Blackwater and Emerald – an hour’s drive west.

A nurse is seen testing a woman for COVID-19 at a testing centre in Sydney on May 12 (pictured) with similar tests being performed at the Queensland aged care centre

A nurse is seen testing a woman for COVID-19 at a testing centre in Sydney on May 12 (pictured) with similar tests being performed at the Queensland aged care centre

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said anyone with flu-like symptoms - no matter how minor - should get tested

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said anyone with flu-like symptoms – no matter how minor – should get tested

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 7,142

New South Wales: 3,092

Victoria: 1,618

Queensland: 1,058

Western Australia: 570

South Australia: 440

Tasmania: 228

Australian Capital Territory: 107

Northern Territory: 29

TOTAL CASES: 7,142

RECOVERED: 6,553

DEATHS: 103

‘This message is particularly important for the blokes out there,’ Mr Miles said. 

‘I know that men sometimes fob off their illnesses, they don’t go and get medical assistance, but we urge anyone, anyone in Queensland, but particularly anyone in Blackwater, who is suffering symptoms to please go and get tested.

‘I have four planes on the ground two in Townsville and two in Brisbane that we can use to go and get anyone who’s a confirmed case and move them to Rockhampton or to Brisbane.’

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said anyone with flu-like symptoms – no matter how minor – should get tested.  

‘It’s a timely reminder too for all Queenslanders that this COVID is real, it’s out there,’ she said. 

A nurse is seen testing a man for coronavirus (pictured) on May 15 at Sydney's St George Hospital

A nurse is seen testing a man for coronavirus (pictured) on May 15 at Sydney’s St George Hospital 

The victim has not worked since November and has not left the central Queensland town of since February. Blackwater (pictured) has a population of about 4,500 people

The victim has not worked since November and has not left the central Queensland town of since February. Blackwater (pictured) has a population of about 4,500 people 

‘Blackwater has never had a case of COVID before.’   

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga confirmed the man who died was a miner who hadn’t worked since November.

‘My deepest sympathy and condolences go to the miner who lived in Blackwater and his family who have sadly lost a father and uncle, a nephew and a friend who was no doubt much loved by his family,’ she said. 

‘I’m sure that we will be receiving more information as test results come back and the contact tracing work gets underway. This only happened yesterday afternoon.

‘Today is a sad day for Central Queensland and indeed a sad day for Blackwater – our thoughts are with you.’

The woman is alleged to have gone to work at the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre (pictured on May 16) despite having symptoms of COVID-19

The woman is alleged to have gone to work at the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre (pictured on May 16) despite having symptoms of COVID-19

The man’s death comes as one of Australia’s top health authorities boasted the nation had effectively beaten the virus. 

New South Wales chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant told state politicians the ban on international travel and the state’s grasp of social distancing meant it was well placed to stem further outbreaks of the virus and prevent a second wave.

There is just one coronavirus patient in intensive care across the state – and only five nationwide as of Tuesday. 

A total of 30 COVID-19 patients remain in hospital across the country. 

Australia’s death toll now stands at 103.  

Researchers at the University of Queensland (pictured) are working on a vaccine, as another patient dies of COVID-19 in the state

Researchers at the University of Queensland (pictured) are working on a vaccine, as another patient dies of COVID-19 in the state

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