Public health alert: Covid cases diagnosed in international flight

NSW Health can confirm urgent genomic testing is underway after travelers arriving in Sydney from southern Africa tonight tested positive for COVID-19

There were fourteen passengers who arrived in Sydney are from one of the nine southern African countries of South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and Seychelles.

Two of these travelers tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, and urgent genomic sequencing is underway to determine if they have been infected with the novel Omicron B.1.1.529 variant of concern.

The passengers landed on Qatar Airways QR908, Doha to Sydney, on Saturday, November 27 at around 7 p.m. These travelers were sent to the Special Health Accommodation, where they would be quarantined for 14 days.

According to a public statement, other passengers on the trip may be considered close contacts and will be notified and asked to get tested right once, as well as isolated for 14 days.

Read more: New York State declares disaster emergency amid COVID-19 resurgence

It is an offense not to comply with a Public Health Order and penalties can apply. Close contacts will be contacted on a regular basis, and compliance will be monitored.

Regardless of their vaccination status, any passengers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, or Seychelles within the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.

All passengers who have visited any other nation in the 14 days leading up to their arrival in NSW must return immediately to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours pending further health advice.

Anyone who has already arrived in NSW and has been in any of the nine African countries within the previous 14 days must get tested and isolated for 14 days or until they depart on another flight that leaves Australia, in accordance with the current rules for the unvaccinated flight crew.

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