Urgent contact tracing and genome sequencing are underway in Queensland after a QantasLink flight attendant tested positive to the Delta strain of COVID-19.

Chief Health officer Dr Jeanette Young today confirmed the female flight worker from Banyo, aged in her 30s, became symptomatic on July 13 and was tested on July 21, meaning her infectious period dates back to July 11.

She worked on these six flights around Queensland:

• July 11 Brisbane – Longreach QF2534
• July 11 Longreach – Brisbane QF2535
• July 11 Brisbane – Gladstone QF2346 & stayed in Gladstone at the Mercure Hotel
• July 12 Gladstone – Brisbane QF2331
• July 12 Brisbane – Hervey Bay QF2374
• July 12 Hervey Bay – Brisbane QF2375

The woman has the exact same virus genome sequencing as a Virgin flight attendant who was infected in recent weeks, although there is no clear and direct link between the two workers apart from a suggested connection to Sydney’s current outbreak.

An urgent alert has been released by Queensland Health for anyone who was on any of the six flights or who was at Brisbane Domestic Airport on July 11 or 12 to be tested immediately.

Earlier…

Neil Breen has broken the news about Queensland Health authorities identifying a new local case of COVID-19 in a QantasLink flight attendant that flew between Brisbane and Longreach.

4BC Breakfast understands the flight attendant worked on QantasLink flights QF2534 and QF2535, Brisbane to Longreach return, on July 11 while infectious and did not leave the aircraft.

It is believed the flight attendant tested positive to COVID-19 after those flights and testing is now underway for all passengers at the Longreach Hospital, with another centre to be opened today at the Longreach Showgrounds.

Neil Breen has reported this morning that Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young may declare Longreach a Queensland virus hotspot today, after authorities were alerted to the case yesterday afternoon.

Press PLAY below to hear the full details

Image: Getty