Virus alert for six Virgin flights

AN infected cabin crew member worked while infectious on six flights across three major Australian cities, prompting an urgent Covid-19 warning.

Victorian Department of Health deputy secretary Kate Matson said the Virgin employee had worked from October 4-6, between Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle.

The flights of concern were

VA219 and VA218 on October 4, VA827 and VA808 on October 5 and VA1593 and VA1594 on October 6.

“Fellow crew members on those flights have been deemed close contacts and most do live in Melbourne and will be contacted by the department,” Ms Matson said. “Passengers on those flights are being contacted by the relevant jurisdictions and we have been in close contact with both NSW and South Australia, and working closely with them to contact the relevant passengers.”

Virgin picked up the positive case through the airline’s ongoing Covid-19 surveillance testing of all its employees. More details about the flights and any subsequent exposure sites were to be provided in the Victorian chief health officer’s media release on Saturday.

The states are battling ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks, with Victoria posting a national record of 1965 new infections on Saturday.