Statement from Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said:

“Fraser Coast residents need to ensure they are listening to and following the advice of Queensland Health in the wake of today’s announcement that a flight attendant who worked on flights to and from Hervey Bay on 12 July has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Anyone who was on one of these two flights is being urged to get tested and self-isolate until the test result comes back.

“Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms at any time should get tested, and now more so than ever.

“I was on one of the flights on 12 July and have had a COVID-19 test this morning which has come back negative.

“As a precautionary measure, I requested Councillors cancel their community engagements today until my results were returned.

“While I have had no symptoms over the past 11 days and returned a negative COVID-19 test result, I will be isolating at home for the next four days as a precaution.

“I can advise the community that the flight attendant did not enter the Hervey Bay Airport terminal which means the airport can continue to operate as normal.

“Council will continue to work with Queensland Government agencies to support them in any way we can following this latest development.

“I encourage everyone on the Fraser Coast to stay informed and to visit the Queensland Government website - https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/ - for the latest advice and updates, including contact tracing alerts.”

Additional information

The Hervey Bay COVID-19 fever clinic is located at the St Stephen’s Hospital car park on the corner of Nissen Street and Medical Place, Urraween, and is open from 8am to 5pm seven days a week.  

The Maryborough fever clinic is located at Maryborough Hospital with its entrance off Yaralla Street. It is open from 8am to 3.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas has only had one confirmed flight where inflight transmission occurred.

That flight was in March 2020 when around 60 passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship boarded a four-hour flight from Sydney to Perth and safeguards like mandatory mask wearing had not been introduced.