Coronavirus Australia live: tennis stars enter isolation as Queensland denies hotel

Good morning all, Matilda Boseley here, bringing you all of the news on Friday morning.

If you see anything in your area or online that you think I should be aware of, make sure you send it through to me on Twitter @MatildaBoseley or by email on [email protected].

It’s been a big week and we are ending it with what’s shaping up to be a big news day.

No breach at Queensland quarantine

Yesterday the Courier Mail reported that a father and daughter infected with the highly contagious UK variant of Covid-19 attended the Royal Brisbane hospital before being diagnosed and then the woman was left unattended at the hospital and travelled back to the hotel in either a taxi or ride-share.

But Queensland Health has since released a statement stating that “early reporting has misrepresented this situation” and “that it’s important people understand the facts.”

Queensland Health says the woman was wearing full PPE and was transported to and from the hospital by Queensland Ambulance Service.


All protocols were followed in this case … The suggestion the person caught a ride-share back to the hotel is untrue. Full and proper Covid-19 PPE protocols were followed while these guests were in the hospital.

We have successfully managed the quarantine of over 100,000 people in Queensland, and have not had a single case because of the movement of these people.

Andy Murray tests positive

In tennis news, thousands of player and staff are landing in Melbourne and South Australia over the coming days to quarantine ahead of the Melbourne Open. But one of the biggest names in the sport won’t be flying just yet.

The five-time Australian Open finalist and former world No 1 Andy Murray has tested positive to Covid-19 and isolating at home near London. Murray skipped the Delray Beach tournament in the US to reduce his chances of contracting the virus.

He is isolating at his home in London but still hopes to travel to Australia if he recovers in time.

Melbourne deaths

And now to Melbourne, where Tullamarine residents in the city’s north have been shaken by the discovery of four bodies in a home on Burgess Street.

Murder-suicide is among several lines of inquiry being followed by police after discovering the bodies of a mother and her three young children inside a Melbourne home.

A 48-year-old man, believed to be the father and husband of the four found dead at the Tullamarine home, was expected to be formally interviewed by homicide detectives on Thursday night.

He provided an initial version of events after police arrived at the Burgess Street property and discovered the bodies of a 42-year-old woman, two girls – aged seven and five – and a three-year-old boy.

It is understood the uninjured man made the call to emergency services.

Acting deputy commissioner Robert Hill acknowledged the man was a person of interest, but warned against people jumping to conclusions.


We have a long way to go before we can actually understand and appreciate what occurred.

source: theguardian.com