Covid Qld: Latest case numbers as border restrictions tighten and office mask rules expected to be relaxed

Queensland has recorded just one new community acquired case overnight – a historical case that represents “no risk” according to the Chief Health Officer – as mask restrictions are due to be lifted and border restrictions tightened.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has confirmed Queensland recorded just one new historical community acquired case overnight.

The person was in home quarantine when their case was detected, and they are linked to the Indooroopilly cluster.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the latest case was a child under 10 who has since recovered from the virus and presents no risk to the community

The child was a younger sibling of an Ironside State School student who tested positive, with their parents subsequently testing positive.

Despite testing negative four times during quarantine, serology tests had shown the child had contracted the virus at some point but has since recovered.

Dr Young urged everyone to keep wearing their masks where they are needed ahead of restrictions being eased from 4pm.

“Masks are critical going forward,” she said.

It comes as border restrictions will be tightened from 1am on Saturday, when workers who have to cross the border to undertake an essential service must have at least one dose of their vaccine, with more ­bedlam at the border expected as a result. It also moves the possibility of a vaccine “passport” is a step closer.

Dr Young said critical infrastructure construction workers, medical professionals and agriculture workers were among the few essential workers permitted to cross the border.

“The more people we have crossing the border the more chance one of them, and it only takes one, has Covid,” she said.

“The aim here is to just slow the movement across the border.”

Dr Young said the threat was “totally different” from last year when authorities had grown increasingly confident of containing outbreaks of Covid-19 variants.

Mr Miles said Queenslanders had been compliant with health restrictions, but would not be drawn on comparisons with New South Wales, which has struggled to enforce stay-at-home orders.

The Deputy Premier also refused to be drawn on the frequency of lockdowns once the vaccination rate reaches 70 per cent - insisting the rollback of lockdowns was a plan endorsed at national cabinet.

“The modelling says it’s less likely at 70 per cent and much less likely at 80 per cent,” he said.

Long lines of cars at the crossing to Queensland from NSW during the harsh border closure due to the Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Queensland now has no Covid-19 patients in intensive care units, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath revealing the final patient had been moved to a ward.

She said the Griffin Report into the PA Hospital Covid-19 outbreak was with the Director General and she hoped it would be released within the week.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewsk said Australian Defence Force personnel would be on the border from August 25.

“They’ve been a great partner,” he said.

Mr Gollschewski said there would be 120 servicemen and women joining police on the border, 20 more than Queensland requested.

Police on Thursday intercepted more than 8000 vehicles at the border, with about 200 turned around.

For those already in the state, workers will from 4pm get a reprieve from having to wear masks while sitting at their desks in the office after the state government revealed on Wednesday its planned easing of Covid restrictions now the Indooroopilly cluster is under control.

The mask mandate will remain in southeast Queensland for another week but will be toned down.

The key easing will be that it is no longer required to wear a mask indoors when you can socially distance, as outlined on the state government’s Covid restriction road map.

Under the new restrictions from 4pm Friday, all southeast Queenslanders will be required to carry a mask at all times and wear it on public transport, indoors when you cannot stay 1.5m apart, by teachers and students at high schools and when in stadiums and airports.

Dr Young said 12- to 15-year-olds with underlying health conditions were also being urged to get vaccinated.

She said it would not be long until all children in that age group will be eligible to get their Covid jab.

The shipment of Pfizer vaccines from Poland is expected to arrive in Queensland from Tuesday once it has received TGA approval.

Dr Young did not say whether rules requiring anyone crossing the border to have at least one dose of the vaccine would remain once the hard border is removed.

She said people were permitted to cross the border to receive a vaccination so long as they provide evidence of their appointment.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated $1m to help western rural councils monitor the ongoing border closures.

Mr Steven Miles said 120 personnel from the army would be made available to assist with the border closures.