Queensland Health has issued a COVID-19 contact tracing alert after it was revealed a 63-year-old woman recently returned from Iran had spent time on the Gold Coast while potentially infectious.
Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young (pictured) said the woman was currently in isolation at Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Dr Young said Queensland Health was deploying the same strategy it used to track cases of measles in the community to help reduce the risk of spread of the disease.
“Safety of Queenslanders – in this case people on the Gold Coast – is our number one priority,” she said.
“Our contact tracing procedures are well under way and we want to take every opportunity to raise awareness of this issue in the community.”
She said Queensland Health had rigorous contact tracing procedures.
“We do this very well dozens of times a year for measles – a disease significantly more infectious than COVID-19,” Dr Young said.
Minister for Health, Steven Miles said Queensland Health would be contacting customers of Hair Plus at Australia Fair, Southport, who had appointments at the salon on 27 February and may have been in close contact with the woman.
“We are asking anyone who attended Hair Plus at Australia Fair from 11am onwards on Thursday 27 February to go to the Gold Coast University Hospital,” Mr Miles said.
“If you went to Australia Fair but did not go to that particular hair salon on Thursday, there is no need for concern.”
Dr Young said the best weapon Queenslanders could deploy against the virus was hand washing.
“Washing your hands often and properly means that you can help prevent viruses from entering your body,” she said.
