Covid-19 Qld: Residents reminded any variant can be fatal

As the hunt continues for the missing link between two Brisbane clusters, experts have warned of the dangers of focusing on Covid-19 variants.

The hunt is on for the missing link between infections at Brisbane’s Portuguese restaurant and the Greek Community Centre, as experts warn all Covid-19 virus variants are capable of causing havoc in the community.

Queensland’s Portuguese restaurant Alpha restaurant outbreak has swelled to 23, including a 69-year-old man on a ventilator and a child, with cases spread out on both sides of the Brisbane River and north to the Sunshine Coast.

While the cluster focuses on the Portuguese Family Centre restaurant at Ellen Grove, on Brisbane’s southwestern outskirts, transmission has also occurred at the Greek Community Centre in South Brisbane and the Zeus Street Greek Kitchen at Westfield Chermside in Brisbane’s north.

Eight close contacts of cases have also been infected.

Even though genomic sequencing has joined all the cases, contact tracers continue their search for a so-called missing link between infections at the Portuguese restaurant and the Greek Community Centre.

However they have connected the Alpha variant case of a Prince Charles Hospital employee to her attending the Zeus Street Greek Kitchen on June 26, ruling out her catching the virus at work.

A man looks out from his balcony in hotel quarantine at Rydges South Bank yesterday. Picture: David Clark

While the Alpha cluster continues, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said health authorities believed Queensland’s four outbreaks of the super infectious Delta variant were under control, including one triggered by an unvaccinated Prince Charles Hospital receptionist.

“We do not believe that the Delta variant is circulating in our community, which is excellent news,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

But infectious disease physician Associate Professor Paul Griffin said Covid-19 was still the same virus regardless of the variant.

“I think we’ve got a little bit too much focus on strains and variants at the moment,” Prof Griffin said.

He said the original “Wuhan variant” of the virus, which was less infectious than both the Alpha and Delta variants, still killed lots of people.

And he said it was vital Queenslanders continued to take the Alpha variant seriously “even though it’s not Delta and that’s what everyone is attuned to being alarmed about at the moment”.

“The Alpha variant can definitely spread, it can definitely cause severe disease and if we get relaxed because it’s not Delta, and it’s allowed to establish itself or take off then we’ll be in just as big a problem as if it was Delta,” he said.

Griffith University Institute for Glycomics virologist Lara Herrero said Queenslanders should be focusing on social distancing, hand washing, wearing their masks and getting their Covid-19 shots to reduce their risk of catching the virus.

Griffith University virologist Dr Lara Herrero

“We shouldn’t get worked up about what variant is causing what,” Dr Herrero said.

“I think some people are thinking: ‘It’s not Delta, so it’s all good’ – no, no, no. That’s not how it works. It’s still a highly contagious virus.

“Don’t let us forget that the Alpha variant caused havoc in the United Kingdom. We should understand the seriousness of this virus, period.”

Queensland recorded four new cases of community transmission yesterday, while a further three overseas-acquired cases were detected in hotel quarantine.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there was no need to close The Prince Charles Hospital after two staff members tested positive during the past week.

No new patients will be admitted to the Covid ward at The Prince Charles while it undergoes a deep clean.

She said she was pleased with the work being done by Queensland Health to find the Alpha variant link relating to the second health worker announced at the weekend.

“Luckily, this person had only worked one shift, that contract tracing work is being done,” she said.

“Close contacts are being put in quarantine so we’re very satisfied at this stage that it’s being managed.”

No elective surgery has had to be rescheduled at The Prince Charles.

But the cases have caused disruption, with sources revealing staff from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital have been brought across to fill the gaps for those who have needed to isolate.