Genome sequencing revealed it was the new South African variant, 501.V2, which the state’s chief health officer said was “thought to be more contagious.”
“We have seen other jurisdictions [of Australia] record the UK variant, but this is the first time the South African one has been identified in Australia,” D'Ath said.
“Anyone coming from overseas should expect that they will have to spend their 14 days in hotel quarantine or in hospital,” she added.
Both D'Ath and Dr. Janette Young, Queensland’s chief health officer, said the case reaffirms the importance of maintaining a strong hotel quarantine system.
D'Ath said that very few exceptions will be handed out to travellers due to the increased risk of new cases and the new variants. There have been 78 new cases in Queensland since Oct. 5, all acquired overseas.
“We are seeing a surge overseas of positive cases and we are seeing an increase of positive cases from those who are coming from overseas into Queensland,” D'Ath said.
The Queensland case was detected while the woman was in hotel quarantine before they were transferred to a hospital.
D'Ath said she’s confident the proper measures were taken to contain the virus at the hotel and during the transfer to hospital.
Queensland also announced two new cases of the original CCP virus strain—both in hotel quarantine, and both were acquired while overseas.
The government said viral fragments have been detected in sewage treatment plants located at Victoria Point, Oxley Creek, Goodna, Fairfield, and Redcliffe, as well as Cairns North and Nambour.
“People who have recovered from COVID-19 can have live or dead virus in their stool for weeks after recovery.”
The state health department has urged people to get tested.