SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

British and South African coronavirus variants emerged in Australia

A cyclist is seen riding along the New Farm Riverwalk in Brisbane.
Residents of Greater Brisbane have faced mandatory lockdown in a bid to contain the highly contagious UK variant of COVID-19. Source: AAP

Australian states are increasingly recording cases of more infectious variants of COVID-19. The authorities are working to prevent outbreaks by amending quarantine rules.


Published

By SBS News

Presented by Ricky Onggokusumo

Source: SBS



Skip to podcast episode content

Australian states are increasingly recording cases of more infectious variants of COVID-19. The authorities are working to prevent outbreaks by amending quarantine rules.


The COVID-19 variants first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa have been recorded in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Contact tracing is underway, after it was confirmed a woman with the UK coronavirus variant travelled from Melbourne to Brisbane.

It comes as Greater Brisbane is under a three-day lockdown [[ending 6pm Monday, 11 January]], which was triggered after the UK coronavirus variant was detected in a Brisbane hotel quarantine worker.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, January 7, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament Source: AAP

The National Cabinet agreed on Friday [[Friday]] to change the protocol for overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

Those who test positive for the UK strain of the virus will now complete a full 14 days in hotel quarantine, even if symptom-free and no longer infectious.


Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3 pm.

Follow us on Facebook and catch us on podcasts.


Latest podcast episodes

Follow SBS Indonesian

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS Indonesian News

Watch it onDemand

Stream now