Two new COVID-19 cases on eve of restrictions decision

Queensland has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 on the eve of the possible easing of restrictions triggered by the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster.

Queensland has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 on the eve of the possible easing of restrictions triggered by the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster.

Both cases are in hotel quarantine and were acquired in the US.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Greater Brisbane region was on track for restrictions to be lifted after tomorrow.

She said the government would announce the decision tomorrow, after thousands more people were tested in the past 24 hours.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said there had been another positive sewerage result in Cairns North, as she urged anyone with symptoms to come forward for testing.

There were more than 3000 passengers who entered Queensland in the past 24 hours, with only 26 people refused entry into the state.

There were 61 people who went into quarantine, with about 2800 people across the state in hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would be talking with the Prime Minister this week about proposals for sending internal arrivals to mining camps for quarantine.

She would not reveal details about the proposal today.

The Premier also would not reveal other proposals that the government was considering for hotel quarantine.

It comes as Queensland’s shoppies union is pushing for essential retail workers such as supermarket staff to be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine.

SDA Queensland state secretary Chris Gazenbeek said those workers continued to feed Australians during lockdowns, with the union trying to secure priority access to the vaccine.

“The SDA and other unions for frontline workers are working closely with the ACTU which is engaging the Federal Government on this issue,” he said.

“Subsequent issues concerning any requirements around the vaccine will be approached by following the advice of relevant health authorities.”

Mr Gazenbeek said essential retail workers had served and provided food, grocery and pharmaceutical needs.

SDA Queensland says essential retail workers such as supermarket staff should be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“From the warehouse workers in the supply chain to the pharmacy assistant and the checkout operator being subjected to customer abuse due to panic buying, these workers are essential frontline workers and continue to feed Australians even during lockdowns,” he said.

A spokesman for Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had identified three priority groups including those at increased risk of exposure.

“Any application for critical service designation would be a matter for the medical expert panel,” he said.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said the retailer had encouraged and supported its team members to access flu vaccinations for many years.

“With the guidance of our Chief Medical Officer, we will take a similar approach to any government endorsed COVID-19 vaccinations once they become available to encourage widespread adoption among our team,” she said.