VIRUS CASES CLEAR

GOLD Coasters are being warned to remain vigilant after at least five people on the Gold Coast were tested for the deadly coronavirus.

None of the Gold Coastbased people have tested positive to the virus which has killed at least 56 people in China.

Four people in Australia have tested positive – one in Victoria and three in NSW.

The most recent Gold Coast patient was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning.

They were placed in isolation while waiting for the test results to be finalised.

Queensland Health confirmed yesterday afternoon there were no confirmed cases in Queensland as tests on six people returned negative.

A total of 11 people in Queensland have been tested for the virus, including five that were tested yesterday.

A Queensland Health spokesman said they were trying to contact four people in Queensland who were on the same flight as the Victorian patient diagnosed with the virus.

On Saturday, a Chinese national transported from the Q1 tower in Surfers Paradise was admitted to Gold Coast University Hospital with symptoms of the deadly disease.

Queensland Health has set up an emergency co-ordination centre to manage potential deadly coronavirus cases. Anyone returning from Wuhan, China who has developed respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel is being urged to contact their GP.

People are being urged to call ahead and advise the clinic of their symptoms so precautions can be taken.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the Government was doing “everything they can to prevent the disease from entering Australia”.

“Queensland is well-prepared. We’ve dealt with health emergencies that have threatened Queensland in the past – swine flu, bird flu, SARS, MERS and ebola – and we’ll deal with them again,” she said.

“We’re working closely with the Commonwealth and our ports to provide health information to passengers from China and other areas affected by the outbreak.”