Inside Qld Covid-19 outbreaks as lockdown trigger revealed

Queensland is facing three separate Covid-19 outbreaks, with home quarantine numbers and exposure sites set to grow and authorities outlining the trigger for plunging the southeast into lockdown.

Queensland is battling three new outbreak fronts with the virus again lapping at the border and authorities detailing what would lead to a lockdown.

There are now 1086 people in quarantine and the number of exposure sites is set to explode with two new cases spending time in the Queensland community for several days while infectious.

There are 18 active cases in Queensland. Here’s how the outbreaks stand.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

‘Brand new outbreaks’

The two most concerning cases from yesterday, an aviation worker and a truck driver who stayed at several accommodation sites, have been confirmed as “brand new” cases and are unlinked to any previous Queensland cluster.

Both are Delta and are linked with cases in New South Wales and the United States.

The aviation worker, aged in his 30s, was in contact with international pilots and the truck driver is from Sydney.

Wednesday’s one community case is a close contact of the aviation worker who trained at the facility and lives at Gaven on the Gold Coast.

Separately, a Gold Coast truck driver is being treated as a Queensland case despite testing positive in NSW.

The Gold Coast truckie

A man in his 50s who lives in Biggera Waters and “regularly moves between the Gold Coast and Sydney” has tested positive.

He has been infectious in the Gold Coast community for three days.

The driver visited Mermaid Waters, Merrimac, Nerang, Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Palm Beach and Currumbin.

“Absolutely anyone with the most slightest of symptoms please come and get tested,” Dr Young said.

“We now have two people who live on the Gold Coast, who have been out on the Gold Coast while infectious.”

Police checking trucks at the Queensland border at Coolangatta last month. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Yesterday’s truckie

There is more detail on the truck driver who stayed at South Brisbane student accommodation after arriving in Brisbane on September 16.

He acquired the virus in Sydney – where he lives.

He had been infectious in the Brisbane community for eight days and had stayed in three different accommodation venues, including two hotels in Spring Hill – the Metropolitan Hotel between September 21 and 24 and the Royal Albert between September 18 and 21 – and South Brisbane’s Adalong Guesthouse .

How the truck driver was permitted to enter and remain in Queensland is now subject of a police investigation, Dr Young said.

It does not suggest wrongdoing by the driver, with Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy declaring it was “not unusual” for police to investigate how a person entered the state.

Dr Young has previously said truck drivers were expected to enter Queensland, go about their business, and then exit the state.

Dr Jeannette Young has praised Queenslanders for complying with mask restrictions, which have now been extended to the Gold Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

What’s next?

Queensland has escaped lockdown for another day, but Dr Young “can’t say I’m comfortable” with the situation.

Instead, she said Queenslanders’ response to the pandemic – particularly recent outbreaks – proves residents know what to do.

“I’m watching this very, very carefully,” she said.

“Because Queenslanders have done such a fantastic job with our last few outbreaks with wearing masks, with coming forward and getting tested, at the moment, I’m prepared to wait and see if we’ve got any local transmission.

What would lead Dr Young to ask for a lockdown?

“If we see large numbers, if we see spread and definitely if we start seeing unlinked cases and I can’t see where they’ve come from,” she said.