Brisbane Airport traveller from PNG tests positive to Covid

A traveller from coronavirus-ravaged Papua New Guinea who was allowed to roam free in Brisbane Airport has tested positive.

They and another passenger returned from Port Moresby on Thursday morning and went to a café and a shop at the airport for almost two hours before authorities discovered the major breach.

Both passengers were on their way to New Zealand and mingled with others as they transited through the airport during their layover.

The passengers were at the airport’s Hudson Cafe at the same time almost 400 ‘green zone’ travellers were preparing to fly out to New Zealand. 

Brisbane Airport Corporation confirmed on Thursday passengers arriving from ‘red zone’ country Papua New Guinea were allowed to mix with travellers heading to New Zealand (file image of Brisbane Airport) 

An urgent health alert was issued with hundreds of people potentially exposed and asked to get tested and monitor their health.

The Brisbane Airport Corporation blamed ‘human error’ for the breach, with an investigation involving Queensland Health underway into why the passengers were allowed to head to the cafe. 

BAC said it ‘unreservedly apologises for this human error’. 

‘At approximately 9.30am, two transit passengers arrived on a “red” flight from Port Moresby and proceeded through screening to transit as per normal process,’ the airport said in a statement. 

‘Initial review of CCTV indicates that at approximately 9.55am, these passengers were incorrectly allowed into the “green zone”. The passengers were seated at a retail outlet within the green zone until approximately 11.20am.

‘The passengers then used the bathroom and attended another retailer before they were located by BAC staff and returned to the “red zone”. They were in the green zone for just under two hours.’

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has told travellers arriving in the country from Brisbane to monitor their health for the next 14 days.

The passengers arriving from Papua New Guinea were ‘incorrectly allowed into the “green zone”‘. Pictured, a staff member in protective medical clothing moves through the arrivals area at Brisbane Airport

‘The reported incident was in the Hudson Café in Brisbane airport where two individuals from a red zone country were in the café at the same time as green zone passengers. The risk has been assessed as low,’ the ministry said in a statement. 

‘The Ministry understands the two red zone passengers returned negative results prior to departure from their home country. A second test result from swabs taken today has returned a weak positive for one test and a negative result for the other.’

The health alert covers passengers on Air New Zealand flight NZ 202 from Brisbane to Christchurch which arrived about 4.30pm on Thursday.

Passengers on Air New Zealand NZ 146 from Brisbane to Auckland which arrived at 5.30pm on Thursday and Qantas QF 135 from Brisbane to Christchurch are also urged to monitor their health.

Papua New Guinea has been fighting to get widespread community transmission of Covid under control 

‘Queensland Health have informed the ministry that the two red zone passengers were wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and are not symptomatic. Additional testing is being coordinated by Queensland Health,’ the statement said. 

BAC added ‘thorough cleaning of all areas (have) since been conducted, and we can confirm all workers and passengers within the green area were wearing PPE’.  

Papua New Guinea has widespread community transmission of Covid.  

‘There is widespread community transmission of Covid-19 across a number of districts and provinces. It is a serious health risk and is impacting the capacity of local health services,’ the Australian Government said.