A 'pre-cursor' to the highly infectious mutant Covid strain which has devastated the UK, escaped Victoria's hotel quarantine system back in June, according to a leading Australian scientist.
But Professor Damian Purcell, head of the molecular virology laboratory at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, said the public were not told about it because it might have 'spooked' people.
Genomic testing suggests 37 people in the coronavirus-hit state were infected with the strain before Victoria's lengthy second lockdown helped to bring the variant under control.
A 'pre-cursor' to the highly infectious mutant Covid strain which has devastated the UK, escaped Victoria's hotel quarantine system back in June