Queensland backs down on isolating majority of passengers

The Queensland government has backed down on its decision which would have forced two planeloads of passengers into isolation over Christmas – however those seated near the positive case will remain in quarantine. Health authorities had originally deemed everyone on board Monday’s Virgin flight VA 1105 as close contacts after a man tested positive. The case also travelled on another Virgin flight VA 735 from Brisbane to Townsville on the same day. “So there's been a lot of discussions overnight and I know that there's been contact with other chief health officers and health officials interstate to see how states are dealing with this based on the national guidelines,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said. “I've been advised this morning that the Chief Health Officer and the deputies have viewed that we can apply the normal rules in relation to these flights and we don't need to wait until we get the findings of whether it's Omicron because, if it is, we still will apply these rules. “That means that other than those people - who will be directly advised they are close contacts, because they were either part of the travelling party or sitting immediately around this individual - the remainder of the passengers will be deemed to be casual contact. “What that means for those people will be that they have to get tested, isolate until they get a negative result, and then just watch for symptoms over the next 14 days.”