Bundaberg put on Covid alert after positive case visited Bunnings Kensington

More details on what triggered a Covid exposure alert at a Wide Bay Bunnings have been revealed as has the number of those quarantining across the region.

Bundaberg was put on the contact tracing map over the weekend after a positive case visited the region on Wednesday.

Bunnings on Johanna Boulevard was listed on the Queensland Health contact tracing list on Sunday as a low risk exposure site.

The person at the centre of the alert visited the store between 9am and 10am on December 15.

It comes after two positive cases were detected in the Wide Bay at Hervey Bay last week.

WBHHS confirmed the Bundaberg exposure site in a statement on their Facebook page saying the person who tested positive was no longer in the Wide Bay region.

“The person who tested positive to Covid-19 was visiting Bundaberg for a private funeral service,” the statement said.

“Upon return to New South Wales, the person tested positive to Covid-19. The person is no longer in Wide Bay.

Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Richard Walker

“As per the Public Health Direction, records of contact details of funeral attendees were captured for the purposes of contact tracing if exposed to a case of Covid-19.

“Our public health officers have since been assessing the movements of the person with COVID-19 while they were infectious to determine ‘close contacts’.

“These close contacts have since been directed to quarantine and be tested for COVID-19. If you haven’t heard from us, you are not considered to be at risk.”

According to the Queensland Health website, 40 people across the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service region are currently subject to active quarantine notices.

In a press conference on the weekend, Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard told Queenslanders to assume Covid was everywhere, as the Omicron strain starts to become the dominant variant.

“In the coming weeks we are going to see very large numbers of Covid-19 in the community,” he said.

“We must assume that Covid is everywhere.”

The Bundaberg Fever Clinic entry point has been moved to Hope Street (near Queens Park).

Over the weekend a mask mandate was reintroduced across the state for people visiting shopping centres, hospitals and aged care, as well as ride shares and taxis.

Due to an increase of demand for Covid testing, the Bundaberg Hospital fever clinic entrance was also changed to Hope St.

Anyone who has been to a low risk exposure site must get tested but is not required isolate.

If you are experiencing symptoms, isolate at home until you receive a negative result.

Continue to monitor for symptoms, if you become symptomatic get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.