ACT Health is advising that a woman in her 30s, who recently travelled from Townsville to Melbourne by air and has tested positive to COVID-19, transited through Canberra Airport for a short period last Wednesday, 7 October.
The individual, who tested positive three days after arriving in Melbourne, was asymptomatic during her stopover at Canberra Airport from 8.30am to 10am and wore a mask on all flights and in the airport.
ACT Health is working with public health units in Victoria and Queensland to investigate and confirm her source of exposure, and contact tracing of flights is underway. This work is taking place in line with national public health guidelines.
ACT Health is contacting passengers and crew on flight QF1543 from Brisbane to Canberra, who may have been in close contact with this particular passenger.
As a precaution, ACT Health is also advising anybody who was in the Canberra Airport at Gate 13 or 14 during this period to watch for symptoms and, if symptoms develop, isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
Although there is a low likelihood of virus transmission to Canberrans in this instance, as borders begin to open across Australia, this is a timely reminder that COVID-19 is still here and the situation can change quickly.
It is also important that while travelling, people take appropriate and recommended precautions to minimise the risk to themselves.
The statement from ACT Health said to keep Canberra strong we must remain vigilant and keep practising regular COVID-safe behaviours, which remain the best defence against COVID-19:
- Keep 1.5 metres apart whenever possible
- Continue good hand and respiratory hygiene
- Stay home if you are unwell, and
- Get tested if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Confirmed cases update
There have been no new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours, leaving the ACT’s total at 113. There are no active cases in the ACT and no COVID-19 patients in Canberra hospitals.
A total of 110 cases have recovered from COVID-19 in the ACT.
The ACT has recorded three deaths.
The number of negative tests recorded in the ACT is now 99,760.
Be vigilant travelling to and from Sydney
In recent days, the number of COVID-19 cases in Sydney has continued to increase. Any ACT residents who have travelled to NSW in the past 14 days must keep up to date with the latest NSW Health alerts on affected locations and health advice. Anyone who has recently travelled to Greater Sydney should be vigilant for even very minor COVID-19 symptoms, and immediately get tested and isolate at home if symptoms develop.
The list of locations in NSW where COVID cases have visited is frequently updated, so it is important to check regularly if you have travelled to NSW in the previous 14 days.
General information
ACT Health reminds anyone who has been outside the ACT to monitor the health website of the jurisdiction they visited for updates on where confirmed cases have spent time and where other alerts may be in place.
If you intend on travelling, please monitor the other jurisdiction’s website. The advice on affected areas is changing regularly, so keep up to date with the latest advice. Please be mindful and aware of how easily the virus spreads. Always be mindful of the ABC of COVID-safe travel:
Avoid COVID-affected areas—check the COVID website of the state or territory you are travelling to. If you are welcoming relatives or visitors from interstate, please ask them not to come if they are coming from an area with a recent case or are feeling unwell.
Behave in a COVID-safe way—be vigilant with hand and respiratory hygiene, maintain physical distancing from other groups, and stay home if feeling unwell. Talk with your interstate visitors about keeping COVID-safe in the ACT.
Check back when you’re home—monitor the COVID website of the state or territory you visited for two weeks to see if they had any cases. Follow the website’s advice about testing and self-isolation. If you feel unwell with COVID symptoms while away or when you return, please get tested immediately and self-isolate until you get the result.
ACT residents returning from Victoria must continue to advise ACT Health before their arrival, preferably at least 72 hours before the intended travel date, and immediately quarantine for 14 days.
The ACT Government has a dedicated COVID-19 website for all information about the health and economic response to the pandemic in the ACT. For further information visit www.covid19.act.gov.au.
The ACT Government also has a helpline to assist Canberrans through the challenges of COVID-19. The COVID-19 Helpline is (02) 6207 7244 and is available between 8am and 8pm daily.
