First case of highly-contagious Covid variant found in Australia
The first Australian case of a South African variant of Covid-19 thought to be more contagious has been detected in Queensland.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the case involved a woman who arrived on December 22 and was immediately placed into hotel quarantine.
"Genome sequencing has come back to show that she has this new variant that has been picked up in South Africa, that is thought to be more contagious," she said.
The woman was transferred via ambulance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said while other jurisdictions had detected a UK variant of the virus, this was the first time the South African strain had been confirmed in Australia.
"We are absolutely confident that all proper measures were taken at the hotel and in the transfer, and of course at the hospital in relation to this positive case," she said.
Two new coronavirus cases in Queensland
There were two new cases recorded in the state overnight, both acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine.
Queensland Health has also confirmed two crew members from a superyacht that arrived in Cairns four days before Christmas no longer have active Covid-19 infections.
A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s had initially tested positive after the Lady E arrived on December 21, following a two-week sea journey from the Maldives.
Some 14 guests and other crew have been directed to hotel quarantine while six other crew members remain on the vessel.
Further testing found the pair were carrying antibodies from an old recovered infection.
"The blood tests confirm there is no active Covid-19 infection," it said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Both will remain in quarantine and full isolation from the wider community until early January."
All other crew members have returned negative test results but will continue to isolate either on the yacht or onshore.
The captain of the Lady E, James Kennedy, said he was grateful for the effort authorities had gone to on behalf of the crew.
A fourth checkpoint designed to ease congestion on Queensland's border with NSW will open for New Year's Eve as police work to balance resources across a number of Covid operations.
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the checkpoint would open at 7am on December 31 to help ease congestion around Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.
Almost 70 extra officers and SES personnel have been called on to assist at the border and Chief Supt Wheeler said police also had responsibility at airports and hotel quarantine sites.
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