Australia’s first confirmed case of the new South African variant of the CCP virus was detected in Queensland, the state’s government announced on Tuesday. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told reporters that a woman arrived in Queensland on Dec. 22 and tested positive while in hotel quarantine. Genome sequencing revealed it was the new South African variant, 501.V2, which the state’s chief health officer said was “thought to be more contagious.” “We have seen other jurisdictions [of Australia] record the UK variant, but this is the first time the South African one has been identified in Australia,” D’Ath said. “Anyone coming from overseas should expect that they will have to spend their 14 days in hotel quarantine or in hospital,” she added. Both D’Ath and Dr. Janette Young, Queensland’s chief health officer, said the case reaffirms the importance of maintaining a strong hotel quarantine system. D’Ath said that very few exceptions will …