A man who’s receiving oxygen in a Gold Coast hospital, after testing positive to COVID-19 having been infectious in the community for 10 days, has previously expressed opposition to virus restrictions.
Duran Raman, aged in his 30s, called Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews a “f****** gronk” and an Melbourne anti-lockdown protester a “legend”.
Queensland authorities believe Raman, a fitness and Aussie rules football enthusiast who lives in Broadbeach, likely caught COVID-19 in Melbourne before returning to the Gold Coast on October 10.
He developed symptoms the following day but did not get tested until presenting to the emergency department at Robina Hospital with symptoms on Wednesday.
He was transferred to Gold Coast University Hospital before being revealed as positive on Thursday.
Queensland authorities have released few potential exposure sites because he is too sick to communicate with contact tracers about his whereabouts.
“(He is) so breathless he can hardly talk to us”, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
“We don’t have venues at this stage because he is so sick and having difficulty communicating with us and difficulty remembering, as you can imagine.
“This is very difficult for him. It is also very difficult for the Gold Coast community because I can’t give you those areas he has been.”
Raman has not used QR code check-ins since September, Young said.
On Monday evening, Queensland Health revealed the man’s accommodation at the Island Beach Resort in Broadbeach is a casual contact exposure site for the four days since October 16.
He is not vaccinated and shared social media videos decrying Andrews’ decisions on COVID restrictions and saying an anti-lockdown protest leader should be Prime Minister.
He lives by himself in a unit and has worked as a rideshare driver, although Uber says he hasn’t worked for them since September 19.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said she understands the man is receiving oxygen, said it is also unclear how he was able to get into Queensland from Melbourne without quarantining.
A police investigation has been launched into his border crossing.
