VIGILANCE IS A PRIORITY AFTER NEW COVID CASES

THE two new Covid cases in the Far North represent a situation of being vigilant, but not alarmed. A young Mareeba woman returned home from studying in Victoria and a passenger on a private plane that landed in Cairns are among two new Covid-19 cases, likely to be the contagious Delta variant, in Queensland.

The 20-year-old student flew into Cairns on Friday after a brief holiday on the Sunshine Coast, but is believed to have travelled by car directly from the airport and has been at home before being tested at the Atherton fever clinic.

It is understood she wore a mask throughout her flight and in the airport, went directly to her home and has not been in the Far North community at all.

The second is a person flying into Cairns on a private jet on Monday. The person is believed to be a woman and was transferred immediately to the quarantine hotel and tested before the positive result was confirmed.

Both will probably be transferred to Brisbane due to the highly contagious nature of the strain.

The region’s residents have been extremely fortunate throughout the pandemic, with little community transmission and just 65 cases, most in hotel quarantine.

Everyone has been able to lead a relatively normal life without the snap lockdowns and heavy restrictions in the South East and in other states.

It is believed there is low risk to the community, but the cases highlight the ongoing need for vigilance.

That means if people are feeling unwell they should get tested, maintain social distancing, wear masks if they want to and by all means get vaccinated.

The Far North has been lucky, but the situation could change quickly. Do the right thing by your community.