Covid Qld: New local Covid-19 case detected on Gold Coast

An unvaccinated Gold Coast Uber driver who has tested positive to Covid-19 after spending more than a week in the community while infectious has been identified. The manager of the resort complex where he lives says he has had to ‘shut everything down’.

The Gold Coast rideshare driver who is in hospital after testing positive to the Delta variant of Covid-19 has been identified.

The man is Duran Raman, 36, who played Aussie rules on the Gold Coast earlier this year and was a member of EMF Performance Centre, which has branches across the city.

He has previously reposted anti-vax videos on social media and labelled lockdown-prone Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews a “f--king gronk”.

The case was confirmed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday morning, with authorities saying he was so sick with the virus authorities were struggling to get information about his movements in the community while infected.

Gold Coast rideshare driver Duran Raman has tested positive to Covid-19 and reportedly spent 10 days infectious in the community without using the Queensland check-in app.

It was one of five new cases - the others were acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine.

Police are now investigating whether Mr Raman crossed the border into Queensland illegally.

He lives alone in a resort complex in Broadbeach and had previously visited Melbourne. It’s also believed he visited Sydney in late September.

It’s understood police and Queensland Health officials had to attend his home after he checked out of Robina Hospital before testing positive to Covid-19, and could not then be contacted.

The Island Beach Resort at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Police located Mr Raman at the Island Beach Resort at Broadbeach, where he had been living for about 12 months, around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

He was taken by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital.

Mr Raman had previously come to police attention, charged earlier this year with low-range drink-driving and driving unlicensed.

He pleaded guilty to the two charges in Southport Magistrates Court on June 18, according to court records.

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Mr Raman went to Robina Hospital where he returned two positive Covid-19 tests, and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.

He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for two months.

Mr Raman played for the Broadbeach Cats AFL team, kicking several goals this season.

Island Beach Resort manager Greg Jermyn said the positive Covid case in his building was a “shock to the system” and had caused turmoil.

Mr Jermyn said he and nine permanent residents had been forced to get Covid tests and isolate and he had to cancel holiday guests who had booked.

“It’s not the best,” he said. “I’ve had to basically shut everything down and put letters under everyone’s doors. We have to isolate until we get the results.

Mr Jermyn said Mr Raman had lived in the building for about 12 months and been an “alright” tenant.

An Uber spokeswoman said he had not driven for the global rideshare provider for almost a month.

He tested positive in Robina on Wednesday and had been active in the community for about 10 days prior, it’s believed, but there were no exposure sites listed yet as the man hadn’t used his QR check-in since September 18.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the man was so sick authorities were struggling to get information about places he had visited.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Caitlan Charles

He developed symptoms on October 11, meaning his infectious period goes back to October 9, however it is believed he was in Melbourne then.

He became increasingly unwell and presented to the ER at Robina on Wednesday before testing positive. He was then taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.

“He’s so sick he’s having difficulty communicating with us and remembering,” Dr Young said.

“He’s so breathless he can hardly talk to us.

“Anyone who has been in the Broadbeach or Gold Coast area since the 11th of October – any symptoms at all, today is the day you need to come out and get tested,”

Dr Young urged people to wear masks, adding compliance on the Gold Coast “had not always been great”.

Dr Young said since the man had not used the QR check-in since early September, it was difficult for authorities to track where he had been.

“Gold Coast you don’t have 10 days (to get vaccinated), you need to do it immediately,” Dr Young said.

The Premier called upon people on the Gold Coast to get tested if they had any symptoms, but also to get vaccinated, saying the rate of vaccinations in the region was concerning.

“This is a wake-up call for the Gold Coast,” she said, adding that 156,000 eligible Gold Coasters remain unvaccinated.

The case ended Queensland’s 15-day run without a community case.

There are no plans for a localised lockdown on the Gold Coast because of “good” vaccination rates, according to the Premier.

Ms Palaszczuk said MP George Christensen’s comments regarding protests over mandatory vaccinations were “reckless”.

“George Christensen is putting the lives of people here in Mackay and surrounding areas at risk by making reckless comments,” she said.

She urged people in Mackay to come forward and get vaccinated, as the regions continue to lag behind Brisbane as the deadline for people to be fully vaccinated in time for the December 17 reopening of the borders approaches.

“We have 10 days to go – the countdown is on. We really need to get vaccinated,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said about 72 per cent of Queenslanders had received their first dose, while 58.07 per cent were fully vaccinated.

“But I’m still very concerned about regional Queensland,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk singled out Bowen, Dysart, Whitsunday, and Prosperine for their low vaccination rates.

“(After the borders open) there will be tourists coming here from all over Australia, so please, please, please come forward and get vaccinated,” she said.

The Premier said she had spoken to some vice chancellors of universities to raise vaccination rates in young people around the state.

Ms Palaszczuk said businesses would decide whether or not they want to serve unvaccinated customers as the state reopens.

“I’ve been very clear that businesses will make up their own minds,” she said.

“We’re working through those issues but I think what you’ll find is a lot of businesses will take action and the government will look at those issues as well,” she said.

Queensland has recorded its worst week for first-dose vaccinations since early August, despite pleas from the Premier for people to “hop on the lifeboat” and warnings that outbreaks could kill dozens of people when borders reopen.

In an effort to turn around the dismal rates the government will this weekend turn 100 schools around the state into mass vaccination hubs as part of a statewide vaccination blitz.

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Borders will open to the rest of the country on December 17 regardless of whether the 80 per cent fully-vaccinated target was reached.