Confirmed Covid case in Queensland border town of Goondiwindi

Queensland has recorded its first new local case of Covid in nearly two weeks, after a person tested positive in the border town of Goondiwindi, as authorities race to determine how the person picked up the virus.

A mystery Covid-19 case detected in a regional Queensland town has plunged the state into its latest pandemic scare, with a growing cluster within the border bubble zone the suspected source.

The “rapidly evolving” situation in Goondiwindi on Wednesday included at least one infected person being airlifted out of the town to one of Queensland’s dedicated Covid-19 hospitals.

Authorities are expected to reveal the details of the latest case on Thursday morning, with health officials scrambling overnight to determine how a person who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Goondiwindi Hospital on Wednesday picked up the virus.

But the local council has pointed the finger at an emerging cluster in the regional New South Wales town of Moree, 120km from Goondiwindi and one of the 12 council areas included in Queensland’s border zone which allows for non-restricted interstate travel.

Goondiwindi Hospital.

Three cases have been confirmed in Moree this week, with at least one already linked to a funeral held last week.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant on Wednesday warned the communities of Inverell and Moree that the risk of community transmission in those areas were “increasing”.

Goondiwindi Regional Council mayor Lawrence Springborg, in a statement, said some of the close contacts from the confirmed case were already in isolation.

He said the latest case was separate to a truck driver who spent time in Goondiwindi on Sunday before testing positive in NSW.

“This situation is likely to be rapidly evolving in the coming days, and Council will continue to work closely with authorities as the situation transpires to do what it can to keep our community safe,” Cr Springborg said.

“The great irony is that we may never fully realise the success of our region’s vaccination rate, as we will only ever know the number of positive cases and not how many were prevented.”

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

The Goondiwindi local government area boasts the highest vaccination rates anywhere in Queensland, with 81.5 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and 90 per cent receiving at least one dose of the jab.

The high vaccination rates in Goondiwindi should exclude it from Covid-19 restrictions Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said would be imposed, should an outbreak occur, on low jab areas.

Ms D’Ath said she was concerned people were sitting back waiting, thinking it’s not a problem for them because Covid has not been in their communities.

“(But) getting vaccinated is the only way to protect yourself once the virus comes,” she said.

“We have seen what happens (when you don’t get vaccinated).”

Ms D’Ath also announced a partnership with Clubs Queensland, where families who have had their first dose can be in the running for one of 7250 $10 meal vouchers per person.

She said the vouchers would be available at 29 clubs across the state, including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba and Rockhampton, as well as Brisbane.

EXPOSURE SITES

Monday 1 November 2021

Coles – Goondiwindi

Herbert St & Callandoon Lane Goondiwindi

10am – 12pm Casual contact

Kmart – Goondiwindi K Hub

60 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi Goondiwindi

10am – 12pm Casual contact

Coles – Goondiwindi

Herbert St & Callandoon Lane Goondiwindi

3.15pm – 3.45pm Casual contact

Sunday 31 October 2021

Goondiwindi BP Truckstop

INDOORS BP Service Station, 11/11 Cunningham Hwy Goondiwindi

10.30am – 11am Close contact

Goondiwindi BP Truckstop

TOILETS BP Service Station, 11/11 Cunningham Hwy Goondiwindi

10.30am – 11am Close contact

Goondiwindi BP Truckstop

OUTSIDE BP Service Station, 11/11 Cunningham Hwy Goondiwindi

10.30am – 11am Casual contact