Queensland on edge as CHO reveals what will trigger another lockdown

Residents and business owners are holding their breath as authorities race to contain two separate mystery Covid outbreaks, with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young revealing what would trigger another lockdown in the state’s southeast.

Southeast Queensland is on the brink of another lockdown as the list of exposure sites from two mystery outbreaks grows and authorities warn a spike in cases could force swift action.

Tough mask mandates have already been reinstated in Brisbane and Moreton Bay in response to an unvaccinated truck driver testing positive after he was unknowingly infectious in the community for eight days, and a vaccinated aviation worker also contracting the virus.

The Gold Coast was on Tuesday added to that mask mandate after two people were infectious while in the community.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young at the Covid-19 update press conference at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Vaccination Hub, South Brisbane Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said “large numbers” of cases in the coming days could trigger a lockdown – the first since July 31 when six community cases were deemed enough to warrant stay-at-home orders.

On Tuesday, after announcing another case linked an aviation worker, Dr Young elaborated saying a ‘large number of cases, community spread and unlinked cases’ would prompt a lockdown.

“Of course, I always consider a lockdown, and then I work through what we need to do, at this stage I do not think a lockdown is warranted, that could change,” she said.

“I do have a reasonable level of concern.

“I’m really, really, very comforted by the fact that people do know how to respond and respond very, very quickly.”

Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin – who investigated the Prince Charles Hospital outbreak – said he would be convinced a lockdown was “unavoidable” if there were high number of exposure sites and close contacts, as well as more unlinked or mystery cases.

On Wednesday morning, workers from Woolworths in Eatons Hill were reportedly contacted by Metro North Health after an infected case visited the supermarket between 9:30am and 10:15am on Saturday, September 25.

It is believed that those workers have not been told to isolate, however.

Last night, more than a dozen exposure sites were listed on Queensland Health’s website including the Adalong Student Guesthouse where the truckie stayed while infectious along with 25 other people, who were bussed out of the accommodation about 6pm yesterday.

The fresh Covid scare was sparked late Monday night when Queensland Health revealed a man who works for an aviation training site tested positive – despite not travelling interstate or overseas – and had been in the community, including at a childcare centre.

Pathology testing staff leave Adalong Guesthouse in South Brisbane after a guest tested positive. Picture: Sam Scott

Hours later it emerged his wife had also tested positive, but authorities were more worried about an unrelated truck driver who stayed at three locations in Brisbane including the guesthouse where bathrooms are shared.

Dr Young said it was not known how the truckie or the aviation worker contracted the virus.

But she said the aviation worker likely had contact with international pilots through his job.

A returned traveller from Timor Leste also tested positive five days after completing her 14 days in hotel quarantine, however authorities are looking at whether this could be “light shedding” as opposed to being a new case.

Dr Griffin said Queenslanders could not assume our run of luck would continue, especially as it is one of the lowest vaccinated states in the country so “most susceptible to a delta outbreak”.

“These new cases present some concern, particularly the truck driver who stayed at multiple temporary accommodation sites, his case presents some very concerning features,” Dr Griffin said.

“The truck driver’s situation of spending a long time in the community while infectious, the likelihood of a high number of close contacts means this must be taken very seriously.

“There are a number of factors which would convince me a lockdown would become unavoidable including a high number of exposure sites and close contacts, as well as unlinked or mystery cases.”

Visitors have been restricted at aged care facilities, hospitals, prisons and disability services facilities in the Brisbane and the Moreton Bay local government areas.

And just days after mask restrictions eased, people in those two LGAs are now required to wear them at all times while inside, including sitting down.

Masks do not need to be worn when eating and drinking.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Patrick Woods

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also announced unvaccinated freight workers would be banned from entering Queensland from October 15.

With seven Covid-positive truckies entering Queensland since August 24 – including Tuesday’s case – Ms Palaszczuk declared all drivers must have at least one vaccination by October 15 or they will not be allowed in.

Drivers must then have received or have a booking for their second dose by November 15.

Under the new mandate, drivers must receive a negative test seven days before entering Queensland – removing the requirement for a test within 72 hours.

The state has already established a roadside vaccination facility at John Flynn Private Hospital at Tugun and will add a second clinic at Goondiwindi Showgrounds from 6am to 10pm each day.

Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine backed the government’s move but said it was vital the roadside hubs were effective.

Queenslanders have again been urged to get vaccinated with the mass vaccination hub at Boondall in Brisbane’s north now accepting daily walk-ins.

Meanwhile Dr Young said she was still waiting to see specific Doherty modelling before making decisions around the border.

It comes after Ms Palaszczuk called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to release “revised Doherty modelling” ahead of Friday’s national cabinet which she said she needed before making any border decisions.

It’s understood national cabinet has been advised they can expect to see three other pieces of modelling from Doherty.

The Prime Minister’s office on Monday said Ms Palaszczuk already had modelling around how cases would grow if the country opened up amid interstate outbreaks.