COVID-positive consulate staffer flew from Sydney to Sunshine Coast while infectious

Queensland's latest case of COVID-19, a man in his 20s, flew on a Jetstar flight from Sydney to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast while infectious, sparking a public health alert for fellow passengers.

The man returned from overseas and was allowed to then board the domestic flight because he is a consulate staffer and they are allowed to quarantine in their home as part of a national exemption.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health contact tracers were notifying passengers who were also aboard Jetstar flight JQ790 on Friday, July 31.

The man, who had followed all of the required procedures, tested positive while in quarantine on the Sunshine Coast.

"There are a very, very small number of exemptions that have been agreed nationally and one of those exemptions is consulate staff, so they are able to on-travel to their home and to quarantine in their home," Dr Young said on Sunday.

"So he did everything that he should have done and he was allowed to do. But this does mean this is a risk and we do need to contact trace the people on that flight with him."

Meanwhile, all but one resident of a Brisbane aged-care facility where a COVID-positive staff member was believed to have worked a shift while infectious have tested negative for the virus.

Dr Young said the remaining resident at Bolton Clarke aged-care centre at Pinjarra Hills either did not want to be tested or there was an issue while trying to test them.

Regardless, authorities were not concerned and would monitor the resident closely.

The COVID-positive staff member was linked to the two young women who returned to Queensland from Melbourne while carrying the virus and spent eight days in the community while infectious.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said despite an impressive 13,703 Queenslanders being tested for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, complacency is still the state's greatest enemy.

"We’re not out of the woods yet, the next week is still going to be very critical," she said.

Meanwhile, personal visitors have been banned at aged care homes in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast and Scenic Rim local government areas, as part of COVID-19 precautions.

End-of-life visits are still allowed, but residents cannot leave their facilities unless they are receiving health care, attending a funeral or for an emergency or for compassionate reasons.

The restrictions came into effect at midday on Sunday under the powers granted to Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young.

The rules also include anyone entering an aged care facility must wear a single use surgical face mask and facility operators must limit staff movements between multiple different facilities.

A full list of facilities subject to these new directions can be found here.