A college student from China has been quarantined in a Brisbane hospital after being diagnosed with a new type of coronavirus after an apparent third country transit stop. This could challenge the third country`s "self-isolation" quarantine regime, which some Chinese students now use to bypass returning to Australia.
The 20-year-old University of Queensland student spent at least 14 days in Dubai without supervision before entering Australia via Brisbane on February 23.
Two days later he began to show symptoms.
Queensland autharies told the australian they suspected the student had contracted the virus in dubai for two weeks.
The man is currently segregated in Royal Brisbane and Women`s Hospital and is in stable condition.
Insiders told The Australian that autharies didn`t think he ever went to the University of Queensland because "he was bad."
"His roommate is now quarantined but doesn`t show any symptoms of the virus," said Insider.
The sick student lives in Toowong, near the Kun University campus.
Queensland Health minister Steven Miles is expected to hold a news conference on this soon.
Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said:`Authorities is working to determine where the man may have contracted the virus and who he has been in contact with.
"The man recently returned to Brisbane and we are working closely with the authorities concerned to track down the contacts. "said Dr. Young.
"The man lives with another housemate in Toowong. We have contacted the male roommate, who is under evaluation.
"Our contact tracking method is reliable and credible, and if it has been exposed in the community, we will seize every opportunity to improve our understanding of the case in the community. "
The man was the 10th person to be diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus in Queensland, including three who were evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise to Australia.
The university of queensland`s speaker said in a statement that the queensland department of health had informed the agency that the student was infected with the virus.
"The University of Queensland is providing support to the student and we sincerely wish for an early recovery," said Speaker.
At present, the authorities do not believe that the student has been to any of the University of Queensland campuses upon arrival in Australia.
"We understand that the student complied with the travel requirements of federal government.
"A roommate and classmate, who is understood to be in good condition, has been tested for virus just in case, and is awaiting the results.
The University maintains contact with the Queensland Ministry of Health and is working quickly to assist in the necessary measures.
The University is prepared to respond with a series of safeguards. "
(The copyright in this article is owned by the Australian newspaper)
The following are the travel warnings issued by Australia at the end of the press release:
