SINGAPORE: Two
Singapore Airlines passengers who tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Sydney had travelled from South Africa and transited at Changi Airport before heading on to Australia, said authorities.
The New South Wales health ministry said the two individuals arrived in Sydney on flight SQ211 on Nov 28.
Both travellers were fully vaccinated and have since been placed in isolation.
Singapore authorities said the two passengers left Johannesburg, South Africa on a Singapore Airlines flight on Nov 27 and arrived at Changi Airport the same day for their transit flight.
They remained in the transit area until their departure the next day, said the authorities, with Changi Airport's website showing that SQ211 departed Singapore at 10.30am on Nov 28 and landed in Sydney at 9.20pm the same day.
Singapore had previously announced tighter restrictions for passengers with recent travel history to seven African countries.
Those measures took effect at
11.59pm on Nov 27, with all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history within the last 14 days to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe not allowed to enter or transit in Singapore.