Returned traveller moved to ICU in Victoria as genomic testing shows hotel quarantine worker has UK variant

A returned traveller in Victoria has been transferred to intensive care after being infected with COVID-19 as authorities confirm the recently infected hotel quarantine worker has the UK variant.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews Source: AAP

A person in hotel quarantine in Victoria infected with coronavirus has been transferred to intensive care.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday the person was a returned traveller, not a community case.

Mr Andrews also said a second hotel quarantine worker who recently contracted COVID-19 has the highly infectious UK variant.

The woman in her early 50s, who worked at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, had eight primary social contacts, such as family and friends, and 136 work contacts.

The work contacts of the Holiday Inn worker include 12 Australian Defence Force members and nine police officers.

All are isolating and awaiting their test results.

Victoria has launched a testing blitz of Melbourne's northwest after the woman's infection was discovered on Sunday. It was second such case in less than a week.

Victoria on Tuesday reported no new local or international infections. There are 15 active cases in the state following 12,816 tests.

Testing capacity has been increased near possible exposure sites including a bottle shop, cake shop and clothing store.

New pop-up testing centres have appeared in Brighton and Clayton, while opening hours have been extended at eight other sites from Monday.

Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville, who is responsible for the state's quarantine program, said the woman did not appear to have breached any infection control protocols.

The woman's case comes after a hotel quarantine worker at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt hotel tested positive for the infectious UK variant on 3 February.

Meanwhile, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton tested negative on Monday after reporting a runny nose, sore throat and headache.

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