Queensland’s new Chief Health Officer has warned there could be an explosion of Omicron COVID-19 cases in the coming months.

It comes after a COVID-19 infection was detected in the state, linked to a flight from Newcastle to Brisbane and a second from Brisbane to Townsville.

All passengers were initially ordered to isolate, before authorities changed the directive for casual contacts.

Dr John Gerrard explained that they initially took an extremely cautious approach.

“In terms of the Townsville flight, last night we made the decision that we would immediately quarantine all patients on that flight, until we had an opportunity to discuss first among ourselves the experts within Queensland Health but in addition with our interstate colleagues, how best to deal with the passengers on this flight.

“We took an extremely cautious approach, this is the first domestic approach in which Omicron, a likely Omicron case has been diagnosed, but moving forward following these discussions we believe it will be safe to use our more usual infection control measures, where we isolate those people two rows in front and behind.”

Scott Emerson said it was a good approach to be cautious initially, before reviewing the evidence.

“As I say, maybe this is the new normal going all the way through to Christmas and into January.”

He said the other interesting comment was Dr Gerrard saying locking down to eliminate the risk was “no longer possible”.

Scott welcomed the “new approach”.

Press PLAY below to hear his comments in full

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