After a Virgin Australia cabin crew member tested positive for Covid-19, five passengers on flights between three states were forced to be isolated.After a quick test on Saturday night, the airline reported that the crew member tested positive for the virus.Virgin Australia stated in a statement that the crew member is currently isolated and is in rapid contact with all close contacts.Virgin Australia has ordered crew members who are not licensed to fly to stop flying and be tested and isolated.All passengers on flights with this crew member will be contacted by the health authorities. Those in NSW are required to immediately go into isolation for 14-days.Deep cleaning will be done to the impacted aircraft as well as any Virgin Australia spaces that were visited by crew members. Virgin will also work with affected airports to clean all public areas.Virgin stated that the crew member affected is close to a positive COVID-19 patient from a cluster in Sydney.Virgin Australia understands that the crew member did not know they were close contacts of a positive case until they had completed their last flight.NSW Health must be contacted immediately if a passenger is in NSW at the time of these flights. They will need to be tested and isolated for 14 days regardless of the outcome. Passengers who are currently in other states should seek advice from their local authorities.VA939 (Virgin), June 25, departing Sydney at 11.51am, arriving in Brisbane at 1.25pmVA334 (Virgin), June 25, departing Brisbane at 2.59pm, arriving in Melbourne at 5.16pmVA827 (Virgin), June 26, departing Brisbane at 9am, arriving in Sydney at 10.14amVA517 (Virgin), June 26, departing Sydney at 11.14am, arriving on the Gold Coast at 12.40pmVA524 (Virgin), June 26, departing the Gold Coast at 11.26pm, arriving in Sydney at 2.47pmVictoria's Department of Health has asked anyone on the VA334 Brisbane-to-Melbourne flight to be tested and isolated for 14 days after the date of exposure.A number of new sites were also added to the exposure site list by the health department. Anybody who visited these locations between the dates listed below must be tested until they get a negative result.Melbourne Airport Terminal 2 (all public areas), June 26, 2006, 6.30am-7.30amMelbourne Airport: Axil Coffee Roasters, June 26th at 6.30-7.30amMelbourne Airport Terminal 3 (all public areas), June 25, from 5.20pm-6.50pm, and June 26, from 8am-9amCrew member had an overnight stopover in Melbourne, where they stayed at Holiday Inn Express Southbank.Virgin stated that the crew member was kept in isolation in a hotel while in Melbourne. This was in accordance with Covid protocols for overnighting crew members in New South Wales.All members of the close contact team will be asked to isolate for at least 14 days, in accordance with NSW Health protocols.Virgin Australia also requested that close contacts team members and their household members be tested for HIV, according to state guidelines.The flights could only carry a small number of passengers because of restrictions in NSW.Virgin stated that the infected crew member wore a mask whenever interacting with passengers. They also adhered to Covid-19 safety protocols.The crew member also met all requirements set forth by the state health authorities. Virgin Australia maintains close contact with the crew member, and provides ongoing support, Virgin stated.This announcement is the latest addition to NSW's growing number of Covid-19 exposure locations, with many new venues and routes for public transport added on Saturday night.
