The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has confirmed that five of its members stationed in the Middle East have tested positive for the coronavirus.
An ADF statement released on Friday morning said all five members were asymptomatic and had already been brought home to Australia and were receiving medical care in isolation.
"Four ADF personnel returned to Australia on Friday morning on a routine defence sustainment flight and have been taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital for initial assessment," the statement said.
Australian Defence Force personal have been helping to facilitate Australia's 14-day mandatory quarantine for returning travellers. Source: AAP
"One ADF member, who recently completed their deployment, previously returned to Australia and is currently in mandatory quarantine in Brisbane."
The ADF said it began "proactively testing" its members in the Middle East after a number of local contractors working alongside the Australian troops tested positive for COVID-19.
The ADF did not say what countries the members were stationed in, but said all five members were asymptomatic.
"Defence will take all necessary measures in consultation with our coalition partners, relevant host nations and Australian federal, state and territory governments to ensure ADF personnel receive the treatment and care required," the statement said.
"The safety and health of all ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East Region remains our top priority."
These five are not the ADF's first confirmed cases of COVID-19.
In early March, the ADF confirmed two members had contracted the virus, adding that one of those people had visited defence headquarters in Canberra on 28 February.
Following the diagnoses, the ACT government urged all passengers who travelled on two flights between Sydney and Canberra on 28 February to contact their local health authorities.
Those two ADF members were among some of the earliest Australian residents to be confirmed to have the virus, with only 72 other residents having tested positive at that point.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
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