Queensland travellers have hotel quarantine extended after Russian variant of coronavirus detected

Passengers on an international flight who arrived in Queensland last month have been forced to extend their hotel quarantine period for another five days after the Russian variant of coronavirus was detected in several positive cases.

Metro North Hospital and Health Service said several positive coronavirus cases were detected among passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR898 which arrived in Brisbane from Doha on February 17.

In a letter to passengers it said the infection developed in some returned travellers from the flight late into the 14-day quarantine period.

“Some cases have been found to have variant B.1.1.317 (Russian variant),” the letter said.

“Whilst this is not considered a variant of concern, little…