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Coronavirus hunt for passengers on five new Asia to Sydney flights

written by Adam Thorn | March 4, 2020

NSW Health authorities are searching for passengers on five new flights from Asia to Sydney after people on board tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes after the state confirmed on Tuesday six new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total number of infections since the outbreak to 15.

NSW Health is urging those onboard the following flights to contact their GP or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222 if they feel unwell. The hunt for passengers is in addition to the two earlier flights reported this week by Australian Aviation.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath.

The flights are:

Jetstar Asia Airways 3K686 (Malaysia-Singapore) and Qantas Flight QF82 (Singapore-Sydney)

A man in his 30s arrived in Sydney from Iran on Sunday, 1 March on a flight from Malaysia that transitioned through Singapore. The man presented his symptoms to his GP that day and was referred for testing. He is isolated in Westmead Hospital.

The Jetstar Asia Airways Flight 3K686 departed Kuala Lumpur on 29 February, and arrived in Singapore later that same day.

The man was then seated in row 32 of Qantas Flight QF82, which departed Singapore at 8.30pm on 29 February and arrived in Sydney on 1 March 2020 at 7.35am.

Qantas Flight QF02 (Singapore-Sydney)

A man in his 50s tested positive having returned from Singapore on 28 February 2020 on Qantas Flight QF02, seated in row 5.

Korean Air KE121 (South Korea-Sydney)

A woman in her 60s arrived in Sydney from South Korea on 27 February on Korean Air KE121. She became symptomatic on 28 February and was diagnosed on 3 March.

Malindo Air OD171 (Kuala Lumpur-Sydney)

The man in his 30s returned from Iran and arrived in Sydney on 1 March on Malindo Air OD171 from Kuala Lumpur. Because he may have been infectious on this flight while seated in row 15, passengers seated around him will be contacted by NSW Health.

Japan-Sydney (flight number unknown)

A woman in her 60s returned to Sydney from Japan on 21 February and was diagnosed on 3 March.

The new cases are in addition to the search for passengers on Malindo Air OD177 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne via Denpasar, which landed at Tullamarine just after 6am on Friday, 28 February; and those on the Qatar Airways QR908 flight from Qatar to Sydney on 23 February.

After the latter flight, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters, “Anyone on that flight should be very aware that there was someone on the flight who had the coronavirus.

“If you have any doubts or thoughts that [it] may be the coronavirus, please ring ahead to your GP or ring ahead to the local emergency department so they are aware and can take the appropriate steps to keep everyone safe.”

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Comments (2)

  • Flying Tiger

    says:

    Japan-Sydney (flight number unknown)
    A woman in her 60s returned to Sydney from Japan on 21 February and was diagnosed on 3 March.

    hmmmmm…..that’s helpful?! And concerning – surely the health authorities can ask, “which flight were you on?”!
    How are we supposed to act on that sort of non-information?

  • Jennifer Cherry

    says:

    I came into Adelaide on flight SQ 279, was there a virus carrier on this flight? No news in SA, thank you

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