A UK tourist diagnosed with coronavirus has been dramatically detained accused of continuing her holiday in Australia despite knowing she could be infectious.

The florist and gym instructor, 37, is being held in an immigration detention facility after she allegedly took a trip to Queensland's Hamilton Island despite being told to self-isolate for 14 days after being tested for the coronavirus in Sydney.

She was detained by Border Force officers upon leaving Mackay Hospital where she was transferred after recording a positive test result. Her visa will cancelled, and be barred from coming back to Australia for three years.

A British traveller is being held at an immigration detention facility after she allegedly took a trip to Hamilton Island (Whitehaven Beach pictured) after being was tested for coronavirus

The woman was arrested by Border Force officers after leaving Mackay Hospital on Wednesday (stock)

She allegedly told officials she didn't understand the self-isolating measures.

The Courier Mail reported her Australian visa has been cancelled and that she will be sent home to the UK.

She was also given an exclusion penalty which bans her from entering the country for the next three years.



A shopper wearing a face mask outside Chemist Warehouse in Brisbane on Monday

People tested for coronavirus are required to quarantine themselves until they receive their results.

If the results are positive, patients must remain in isolation for a further two weeks.

There are 2,675 cases of coronavirus in Australia, with 443 in Queensland and nine deaths.