Multiple recent international arrivals into New South Wales are being told to get tested and isolate as health authorities investigate a case of possible coronavirus transmission within hotel quarantine.
NSW Health on Tuesday night confirmed a returned traveller newly diagnosed with COVID-19 had an identical viral sequence to two infected travellers staying in the room next door at the Radisson Blu quarantine hotel in Sydney.
Authorities are investigating whether the third person was exposed to the virus on a June 1 flight they shared from Doha with the infected couple, on transport to the hotel, in the hotel lobby or while in quarantine.
“Currently, there is no evidence of further transmission,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“While the investigations into the transmission continue, out of an abundance of caution, all returned travellers who were on the same floor of the Radisson Blu hotel between June 1 and June 5 and were subsequently discharged are being contacted and asked to get tested and isolate at home pending further advice from NSW Health.
“NSW Health has also asked all staff who worked on the fourth floor between June 1 and June 5 to get tested and isolate pending further advice from NSW Health.”
The department said genomic sequencing showed all three travellers had identical viral sequences of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), which was first documented in the UK.
“The couple, who were asymptomatic, tested positive to COVID-19 on a routine day-two test on 3 June,” NSW Health said.
” The other returned traveller — the secondary case — returned a negative day-two test on 3 June before subsequently developing symptoms and testing positive for COVID-19 following a test on 5 June.
“The couple and the secondary case were transferred from the Radisson Blu to the special health accommodation, where they remain, following their positive tests.”
Source: 9News
