Covid Qld: Qld Health authorities confirm new virus case detected on Sunshine Coast

Authorities admit the discovery of a Covid case in a woman who escaped Melbourne’s lockdown with her partner to travel to the Sunshine Coast happened due to sheer luck, as police reveal the likely reason they chose their border crossing point.

Queensland is facing a renewed COVID scare after a Melbourne couple escaped lockdown to travel to the Sunshine Coast, where a 44-year-old woman has returned a positive result after entering Queensland on June 5.

Health authorities have identified six close contacts of the woman, who is believed to be from Greater Melbourne and was staying with family at Caloundra.

SEE A FULL LIST OF EXPOSURE SITES BELOW

The woman’s partner has tested negative but has been admitted to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital given he had spent an extended amount of time in the car with her.

The woman developed symptoms on June 3.

Queues of cars line up for covid testing at Caloundra after a Victorian woman tested positive in the holiday town on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Lachie Millard

It’s understood the woman and her partner only came forward for testing because the partner needed a negative Covid test result for work purposes.

Authorities have deemed it sheer luck that the case was caught.

It’s understood the woman lost her sense of smell on June 3, which is a symptom of the virus.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young confirmed the case in an address to media at 3.30pm.

The last locally-acquired case of the virus in Queensland was recorded on April 3.

The couple left Melbourne on June 1 and crossed the Queensland border at Goondiwindi on June 5, with police suggesting it was the chosen location because of the high presence of officers on the Gold Coast border.

Ms D’Ath said the couple had also travelled to Toowoomba on their way to the Sunshine Coast.

Covid testing at Caloundra following news that a Victorian woman tested positive in the holiday town.

Dr Young said the woman could have been infectious as she was travelling through NSW. She said she wants serology results to determine whether this was a recovered case – at the end of her sickness.

Ms D’Ath said the 44-year-old woman had been residing in Caloundra with family members, had tested positive to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We have been here before, we know what to do,” Ms D’Ath said.

She said exposure sites in Queensland included Goondiwindi McDonald’s at 7.35am -7.50am on June 5.

The couple had also visited Moffat Beach, King’s Beach and Caloundra while on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Dr Young said a list of initial sites were already compiled but this would be added to as the woman and her partner were further interviewed.

Ms D’Ath said anyone who had been to nominated exposure sites should come forward to get tested.

Queensland Health has extended hours at testing sites on the Sunshine Coast to allow residents to get tested if they develop symptoms of Covid-19.

Queensland Police are investigating the circumstances of how the couple was able to cross the border at Goondiwindi after arriving from Melbourne without having to quarantine for 14 days.

Dr Young said she didn’t know the details around why the couple left Victoria.

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the primary focus was finding out where the woman had been.

He said police would investigate the circumstances around what has happened, including border passes.

Police are reviewing border security and ramping up patrols in a bid to ensure no more Covid-positive Victorians enter the state.

It’s believed the couple may have chosen to travel via Goondiwindi because of a strong police presence, including mobile patrols and automated number plate recognition, on the Gold Coast border.

Gold Coast police Superintendent Rhys Wildman said officers were performing up to 100 random intercepts of suspect vehicles daily at the border, and turning around several people each day.

“If you try to get into Queensland illegally through the Gold Coast, there is a high likelihood of being identified and intercepted,” he said.

Supt Wildman said police were reviewing border security arrangements to see if they needed to be strengthened.

Police have previously said they could reinstall border checkpoints within 24 hours if needed but they are not believed to be under consideration at present.

“Any case of Covid is frustrating,” Dr Young said.

“The community has had to put up with so much now for 18 months.

“To do this again it doesn’t matter the case, any community case of Covid is going to be frustrating for people.”

There are no concerns about the Origin game going ahead tonight in Townsville.

Dr Young said it was very early to even be thinking about a lockdown, and urged anyone with any symptoms to get tested.

Meanwhile, Queensland will ease its restrictions from Friday 1am for Victoria, with only Greater Melbourne to remain a hotspot.