Cleaner’s partner tests positive, contact tracing under way

The partner of the COVID-positive cleaner who worked in hotel quarantine in Brisbane has also tested positive to pandemic virus. Contact tracing is now under way.

The partner of the COVID-positive cleaner in Brisbane who worked in hotel quarantine has also tested positive to pandemic virus.

Queensland Health announced the diagnosis Monday afternoon, with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young describing it as “unsurprising” due to the contagious nature of the UK mutant variant.

Dr Young said the man had been in quarantine since January 7 and had undergone two tests, including one that came back positive today.

Dr Jeannette Young said the new case was “unsurprising”. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

“Genome sequencing is underway, however it’s likely to be the UK variant,” the state’s top doctor said.

“We are determining the man’s potential infectious period and contact tracing is under way.

“We usually do not report any new cases until the next reporting period, however I wanted to stress again the importance of anyone, no matter where they are in the state, to come forward for testing if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 whatsoever.”

Two more sites have since been added to Queensland Health’s contact tracing alerts list, after the partner visited them last week.

Anyone who visited Bunnings Warehouse at Acacia Ridge on Tuesday January 5 between 2pm and 2.40pm, and anyone who visited Sunnybank Cellars on Hellawell Rd, Sunnybank Hills, on Wednesday January 6 between 2.05pm and 2.15pm is asked to get tested, regardless of symptoms, and quarantine for 14 days since attending either of those venues. They are also reminded to wear a mask to their local testing facility.

There have been no changes to the restrictions that are due to come into effect at 6pm Monday in the Greater Brisbane region, ending the three-day lockdown of the area.

The lockdown was ordered after the hotel quarantine cleaner tested positive to the virus last week, with genome sequencing revealing she had the fast-spreading UK variant of the virus.

“(This case) highlights the importance of why the Greater Brisbane lockdown was so important to ensure any potential spread of the virus is contained,” she said.

“This is a really important reminder.”

Dr Young said close contacts of both the woman and man would be subject to further testing this week.

“We’re asking anyone who has been to specific locations the first positive case has been, to get tested and go into quarantine for 14 days since exposure,” Dr Young said.

“Those are Coles Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown on 5 January 2021, between 0730-0800 or Woolworths Calamvale North on 3 January 2021 between 1100-1200 and Nextra Sunnybank Hills Newsagent Sunnybank Hills on January 5 between 8.00am and 8.15am.

“We are also asking those people to come forward for testing – regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.

“Critically, even if a negative test result is received, please continue to monitor for symptoms and get retested if necessary.”

It is not known what impact the new case will have on other states and territories’ restrictions on people travelling from Greater Brisbane.

Earlier today the NT and ACT lifted the ban but the states have so far held off.

The lifts came after Queensland had recorded no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to this morning. No such case were recorded throughout the lockdown.

QUEENSLAND HEALTH ALERTS FOR TESTING:

SOUTHSIDE BRISBANE (RELATED TO CLEANER AND PARTNER)

Two sites were added to the contact tracing list after the quarantine hotel cleaner’s partner tested positive on Monday.

Anyone who visited Bunnings Warehouse in Acacia Ridge from 2pm to 2:40pm on Tuesday, January 5, and Sunnybank Cellars in Sunnybank Hills from 2:05pm to 2:15pm on Wednesday, January 6, has been urged to get tested and quarantine at home for 14 days regardless of the outcome.

An urgent public health alert was issued late on Saturday evening, ordering anyone who had visited Coles at Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown on January 5, 7.30am-8am, or Woolworths Calamvale North on January 3, 11am-noon to get tested and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of the test result.

The Public Health Unit confirmed anyone who attended these venues at these times was now considered to be a close contact with a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner who tested positive to the UK variant.

The Nextra newsagency at Sunnybank Hills was also added to this list of “critical importance”.

Authorities have also asked anybody on the Altandi to Roma St Station train at 7am on January 2 and Central to Altandi train at 4pm on January 2 to get tested.

MALENY (RELATED TO PASSENGER FROM MELBOURNE)

Health alerts have been issued for three venues in Maleny after a woman flew from Melbourne to Brisbane and then drove to the Sunshine Coast hinterland town on January 5. The woman also had the UK mutant strain of COVID-19 and had been in quarantine in Melbourne for 10 days before being allowed to fly but has since tested positive for the virus. At the time 10 days was the required quarantine period and no exit test was required.

Dr Young said the risk was “extremely low” but said Queensland Health wanted to be cautious.

Queensland Health has urged anyone who visited the Cappriccios Italian Pizza Restaurant on January 6, between 6.30pm and 7pm, to get tested.

They have also issued the same advice for those who visited Purple Palate Cellars between 4.15pm and 4.25pm on January 7 as well as the Maleny Woolworths supermarket on the same day between 4.30pm and 4.50pm.

Anyone in the Maleny area with any symptoms has also been urged to come forward for testing.

Dr Young said health authorities wanted to test passengers on Jetstar flight JQ570 who arrived into Brisbane from Melbourne at 11pm but she said Queensland Health had already contacted all passengers.