British tourist is slammed for DEFYING health orders and flying to tourism hot spot AFTER testing positive for coronavirus
- A woman, 36, has been slammed for flying to Hamilton Island with coronavirus
- She had been in Australia less than a week when she was diagnosed in Sydney
- Queensland health authorities tracked her down on a Hamilton Island beach
- Anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate at home for 14 days
- Do you have anymore information? Email [email protected]
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A British tourist has been slammed for flying to a tourist hot spot shortly after being diagnosed with coronavirus despite being told to self-isolate.
The woman, 36, who had been in Australia less than a week, tested positive for the illness in Sydney before travelling to Hamilton Island on Friday, in Queensland’s Whitsundays.
NSW health authorities contacted their counterparts in Queensland, who tracked the woman down on a beach on Sunday, the Courier Mail reports.
She spent the night in isolation on the island before being taken by boat to Mackay, where she is currently in hospital.
A 36-year-old British tourist has defied health authorities by travelling to Queensland after being diagnosed with coronavirus (stock image)
The UK national is understood to have told health authorities that she did not understand their instruction to self isolate upon receiving her results.
Hamilton Island spokeswoman confirmed in a statement that an international visitor had tested positive for COVID-19.
‘Hamilton Island would like to stress that the safety and wellbeing of our guests and staff on the island is of utmost priority,’ it read.
‘We would like to remind anyone travelling to the island about the importance of strictly following the advice of the government and health authorities during this uncertain time.’
The spokeswoman said Queensland Health advised there would be no need to close the island as the incident was a ‘very low risk’.
The woman was found by Queensland health authorities on a Hamilton Island beach. Pictured: Catseye Bay in Hamilton Island
The holidaymaker’s case has been listed under NSW’s coronavirus figures.
Health authorities demand that anyone being tested for COVID-19 should remain in quarantine while they await the results.
People that test positive are then required to isolate at home for 14 days, if they are not sick enough to be admitted to hospital.
There are currently 452 confirmed cases of the deadly virus in Australia, including 78 in Queensland.