Thread by @MackayIM

Qld Health Minister...
-we have to treat ever POS test as though it is a positive case-however, personally apologises to partner and family for distress caused, scrutiny sufered

Qld CHO
-1 *new* case, traveller from Africa, infectious while on plane (contact tracing underway)
-Blackwater case repeatedly negative
--1st postmortem test due to 4wks flu-like symptoms
--2nd test urgent, that night sent to Rockhampton-result invalid (contaminated with blood)

--further tests were done, no other pathogen found
--605 were tested in Blackwater, all NEG (great response)
--close contacts can end quarantine (63k Qld'ers have gone through quarantine thus far)

--body urgently moved to Brisbane; further testing (but could have been negative due to time)
--Minister steps in to back CHO's cautious, transparent & thorough steps to keep QLD community safe; cf "alternative which you've seen in other countries

--rapid response to rural community case
--CHO notes could still be 1 of 2 things; false POS (extremely rare, but such things do happen) or true POS [maybe late, weak, unrepeatable due to death??]
--different from R'hampton nurse-who also had serology as well as nucleic acid POS

--Minister thanks Blackwater community for being so cooperative and supportive of family of the deceased
--CHO notes always problems with collecting good specimens postmortem; assay is highly sensitive and specific, "but no test is 100%"

--CHO: test was "positive at 41 cycles" [=late POS]; we had result + clinically compatible illness so we responded

--CHO: all borders except for VIC, NSW and ACT are still closed
--Minister: the extra testing has helped inform response and also confirms Qld's small case numbers
/kudos for the communication, this can't be an easy day for anyone involved.