Australia’s Governor-General Positive for COVID-19 Despite Having Received Three Shots

NSW Governor, David Hurley attends the Wugulora Ceremony at Barangaroo on January 26, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Cole Bennetts/Getty Images

Australia’s Governor-General has joined the group of high-profile Australian officials who have tested positive for CCP virus, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government House confirmed late on Sunday that Governor-General David Hurley had tested positive to COVID-19.

“His Excellency is experiencing only slight symptoms,” a statement reads. “He is isolating at Admiralty House and will continue to follow all health advice and directions.”

The governor-general has received three shots of the COVID vaccine, including a booster. He will continue his work in isolation.

Meanwhile, New South Wales (NSW) Deputy Premier Paul Toole has also tested positive for the virus.

Toole, the MP for Bathurst, announced the news on social media, revealing that his wife and three children had already contracted the virus in the past week.

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Deputy Premier Paul Toole at a swearing in ceremony at at Government House on December 21, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Mick Tsikas - Pool/Getty Images

“Today my results have come back, and I have tested positive too,” he posted on Facebook on Sunday night. “Fortunately, I have very minor symptoms including a sore throat and a little bit of a temperature from time to time.”

“Whilst I’ve been in isolation for the week because I was a close household contact … I now have to do another seven days from my test.”

This comes as NSW recorded its deadliest day on Monday with 18 new deaths, including a young child.

The state recorded 2,030 hospitalised people, an increase of 103. Of those, 158 are in ICU, an increase of eight from the previous day.

A total of 20,293 new infections were reported from PCR lab tests. However, the online system to report rapid antigen tests (RATs) results is not yet available in the state until mid-week.

The two are among the latest high-profile political figures who have tested positive for COVID amid the Omicron breakout in Australia.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed on Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

Australian former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gestures during a joint news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) at the White House in Washington on Feb. 23, 2018. Jonathan Ernst/File Photo via Reuters

“Like hundreds of thousands of other Australians, I have tested positive for COVID. Symptoms moderate so far. Isolating as required,” Turnbull wrote in a post on Twitter.

“This pandemic and especially this latest wave has put our health professionals under enormous pressure - please be polite and considerate…”

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also announced he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday night.

“Like thousands of Australians, I tested positive today to COVID-19,” he wrote in a Twitter post. “I have the common symptoms and am isolating with my family.”

“My thoughts are with all those who have COVID—this is a difficult time, but we will get through this.”