Queenslanders are wondering how a traveller infected with COVID-19 was able to fly from Kabul to Sydney and then on to the Sunshine Coast while avoiding mandatory hotel quarantine.
Key points:
- Queensland Health is still trying to contact people who were aboard a Jetstar flight
- State and territory governments have the authority to grant exemptions from hotel quarantine
- Queensland’s Premier will raise the issue at Friday’s National Cabinet meeting
The chief health officers of each state and territory have the power to grant exemptions from costly hotel quarantine in limited circumstances, including for unaccompanied minors, certain military personnel, health workers providing emergency services, transport workers, air crews, and others on compassionate grounds.
Until Tuesday night, that also included consular and diplomatic staff — even if they were returning from overseas or from interstate hotspots.
How did it happen?
The traveller — a man in his 20s — had been working as a security guard for a private firm at the Australian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
He landed at Sydney Airport on Friday, July 31 and, carrying the official paperwork (a letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a diplomatic passport), was given leave to travel to Queensland under arrangements nationally agreed upon in June.
Later that day he boarded Jetstar flight JQ790 to Maroochydore.
Jetstar told the ABC it was not aware the passenger had recently returned from overseas.
Queensland Health said he was tested for COVID-19 when he arrived in Maroochydore and was notified of his positive status on Saturday.
The ABC understands he drove in a priv