Coronavirus patients touch down in Brisbane, another expected tomorrow.

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22 February 2020

Two Queensland women aged 54 and 55 are beginning treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19) in Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital after touching down on a Lifeflight charter this evening.

A third passenger, the husband of one of the women, accompanied the pair on their journey from Howard Springs, Darwin, the trio are all part of the Diamond Star Cruise that’s been quarantined in Yokohama, Japan.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says the woman’s husband accompanied his wife as a precaution, he’s been in close contact with his wife during quarantine on the cruise ship.

“This man has not tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) but on compassionate and medical grounds it just makes sense for us to keep him close to his wife and hospital if his condition changes”

The condition of the two women now at the Prince Charles is stable and the male passenger is also well, they’re now in isolation at the hospitals Infectious Diseases Unit.

“This specialised facility is exactly where these patients should be right now, they’re in safe hands, as we saw on the Gold Coast our people stand ready to deal with coronavirus”

“We are also well prepared to fly locals home should they need us, any other of these returning cruise passengers needing to quarantine will also have the proper Queensland Health support to manage the process and be able to return to their home state”.

It’s expected another repatriation mission will take place tomorrow (Sunday) delivering another 57 year old Queensland woman who was confirmed with coronavirus late Saturday afternoon.

That woman is now in isolation in the Howard Springs evacuation centre, she is the seventh Australian cruise ship passenger to return a positive sample with 1 from South Australia, 1 from Western Australia, 2 from Victoria and now 3 from Queensland.

As of Saturday night there has been 7 positive cases of the coronavirus in Queensland and the advice to travellers remains the same.

“If you have been to China in the last 14 days and feel unwell please immediately see a doctor. Please call ahead to the GP surgery or hospital to let them know you may be infected with corona virus”.

For general information about novel coronavirus including symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus