New strain of COVID-19 found in Queensland

• A new strain of COVID-19 has been detected in Queensland, after a traveller from South Africa returned to Australia with the virus
• The mutant strain of the coronavirus is believed to have originated in the African country and testing shows it has never been seen in Australia before
• The person in question with the virus remains in quarantine and it’s not believed they have passed the virus strain on to anyone else
• This is the second time in recent weeks a new strain of COVID-19 has been discovered, with the U.K. grappling with a new mutation of the virus
• Health authorities believe this strain from South Africa may be more contagious than the U.K. strain

A traveller returning to Queensland from South Africa has tested positive for a new mutant strain of COVID-19.

Genomic testing picked up the COVID-19 variant from the person who arrived in Brisbane on December 22.

The strain has been described by the State’s Chief Health Officer as “very concerning” as it appears to be more contagious.

Jeanette Young said this particular mutation was “thought to be more contagious” than the common coronavirus strain.

“It’s not considered to result in more severe disease but we’re still working through that because it’s quite a recent finding,” she added.

Commenting on the new strain, Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath also confirmed this was the first time it had been identified in Australia.

“Anyone coming from overseas should expect that they will have to spend their 14 days in hotel quarantine or in hospital because we are seeing an increased risk based on the positive cases overseas,” she said.

“The positive news about this individual is that they were in hotel quarantine at the time they were tested and they have since been transferred to a hospital,” she added.

“We are absolutely confident that all proper measures were taken at the hotel and in the transfer and, of course, at the hospital in relation to this positive case,” the Minister concluded.

This is the second time in recent weeks a new strain of COVID-19 has been detected in Australia, with a new mutation from the U.K. also detected in Australia.

This particular strain is believed to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original coronavirus.

It’s also partially responsible for the sweeping tier four lockdowns enacted across London which stopped residents from travelling over Christmas.