Covid Qld: Latest case numbers revealed as contact tracing continues for trio

Queensland authorities are warning the “sheer number of risks” in the community are alarming, despite recording no new cases, as new results reveal a “mystery” case in a returned traveller from China is the Delta strain, picked up in hotel quarantine.

Queensland has recorded no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, as the list of possible exposure sites connected to three infected people continues to grow, and new details surrounding a “mystery” case come to light.

Acting Premier Steven Miles said the lack of new cases was an “excellent result” given the “sheer number of risks” the state is monitoring.

The Sunshine State has two major concerns: a vaccinated Gold Coast man who returned from China and tested positive almost two weeks after he left hotel quarantine; and a Qantas flight attendant who brought a Sydney man into the state despite him being a close contact of a NSW case.

More than 2000 people have been placed into quarantine as a result of both threats.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the genome sequence results from the man who travelled from China was identical with a traveller who returned from South Africa via Doha. He is now the seventh person in that cluster.

The man was on the same floor across the hall from the other members of the cluster.

Dr Young said authorities were looking at CCTV footage from the hotel to see if the doors of both positive cases which were located across the hall from each other were opened within the same timeframe.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the traveller was one of six connected to a cluster of seven that originated in a single passenger on a plane.

“It shows how infectious the new Delta strain is, which were seeing to be the dominant strain across the world,” she said.

She said that the vaccine had worked but despite that he still got infected.

Dr Young said she believed it was unlikely he had spread the virus to anyone else.

“He has the exact same sequence ... with a traveller who returned from South Africa via Doha,” she said.

Dr Young said she was still “very very worried” about the flight attendant and alleged Sydney lockdown escapee, who were out in the community while infectious.

She urged people to wear their masks and get tested if you have any symptoms at all.

The Westfield shopping centre in Chermside, where a number of exposure sites are located. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“It’s far too early for any of us to relax,” Dr Young said.

Authorities continue to race to identify hundreds of potential close contacts who crossed paths with an infected pair who spent a combined 38 hours in the community across nearly 50 locations.

Police have confirmed they have interviewed a Delta-infected man accused of fleeing Sydney’s lockdown and travelling in the community for seven days before being picked up by a Brisbane-based flight attendant, who also tested positive, and brought into Queensland.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the Chinese traveller was one of six infected by a single passenger on a plane infected with Delta.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the Chinese traveller was one of six infected by a single passenger on a plane infected with Delta.

It shows how infectious the new Delta strain is, which were seeing to be the dominant strain across the world,” she said.

Officials said masks will be in place until this Friday at least.

Masks must still be worn until at least Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Meanwhile, police have opened a new border checkpoint on the Gold Coast after motorists endured frustrating traffic snarls on the first weekend the state border was slammed shut to NSW.

Motorists were stuck in 90-minute traffic jams on the southern Gold Coast after the border closed at 1am last Friday, with locals crossing for work and school drop-offs the main victims.

But police have opened a fifth checkpoint at Miles St, Kirra, to try to ease the congestion which has left tempers frayed.

A police officer checks a car at the newly-opened Miles St checkpoint at Kirra. Picture: Greg Stolz

It will supplement the other checkpoints on the M1 at Tugun, Gold Coast Highway at Bilinga and Griffith St, Coolangatta.

Speaking at the newly-opened Miles St checkpoint, Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman revealed that 70 vehicles containing 80 people had been turned around at the Gold Coast border checkpoints since the state line was closed to NSW last Friday.

He said some of those who had been refused entry included people trying to cross the border to go surfing.

Supt Wildman said some people were also showing up at checkpoints with the wrong passes and urged them to make sure they had the latest X pass.

It’s the third time a hard border closure has been implemented since the pandemic began.