ACT Health has told around 50 people who came into contact with an Australian Defence Force (ADF) staffer who has tested positive to COVID-19 to self-quarantine until this Friday (13 March).
Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman said ACT Health had conducted a contact tracing exercise to identify and communicate advice to anyone who came into contact with the man who flew to Canberra on 28 February for a meeting at Defence’s Russell Offices complex.
“We have managed to contact all ACT residents who were at that meeting and discussed with them the importance of staying at home in home quarantine and monitoring their health every day until the 13th of March,” Dr Coleman said.
“We will be in touch with them every day and we will be providing them with specific advice on what to look out for and who to call and what to do if they do become unwell.”
She said the man had travelled from Sydney to Canberra aboard Qantas flight QF1509 at 6.45am on 28 February and returned to Sydney on Virgin Airlines flight VA651 at 2.35pm.
The ACT Health Directorate issued a public alert to anyone seated in rows two to six on the first flight, and rows three to seven on the return flight to self-quarantine and call the Communicable Diseases Control Information line on 02 5124 9213.
“Thank you to those people who came forward as that’s a really important part of what we’re trying to do – identifying those who are at risk of the disease and reducing the risk of them spreading it,” Dr Coleman said.
“If you were on those flights but not in those specific rows then you are not at excess risk.”
