1002 cases: Ipswich Covid-19 numbers surge as rapid antigen tests run out
Ipswich’s total number of Covid-19 cases has surpassed 1000, as rapid antigen tests sell out across the city and people wait 96 hours for their PCR test results. See the updated list of exposure sites.
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More than 1000 people across Ipswich have now tested positive for Covid-19, with the origin of about 86 per cent of cases still a mystery.
As at 7pm January 2, Ipswich has recorded a total of 1002 Covid-19 cases — of which, 32 were acquired overseas, 74 were acquired locally from a known source, 33 were acquired locally from an unknown source, and two were acquired interstate.
The source of 861 cases of Covid-19 across Ipswich are “under investigation”.
As the virus spreads across the city, residents are scrambling to determine whether they are infected.
Rapid antigen tests are increasingly hard to come by, with Riverlink Medical Centre Pharmacy reportedly selling out of “hundreds” of tests in just a day.
On Thursday December 30, a Facebook user shared a post stating the pharmacy had “hundreds (of tests) in stock”.
A staff member confirmed on Monday January 3 that all tests had sold by December 31.
She said she was not sure when they might get the next batch of tests or how much they will cost to purchase.
The last batch of tests available at the pharmacy sold for $15.95 each, but the staff member said the price could “go up or down” depending on where the next lot comes from.
Rapid antigen tests were available for purchase in Ipswich at supermarkets including Coles and Woolworths, as well as service stations.
The Queensland Times contacted a large number of supermarkets, service stations, and chemists on Monday, but has not yet found a location with rapid antigen tests in stock.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said during a press conference on Monday that the state government had secured 18 million rapid antigen tests which will be provided for free from public testing sites as well as at pharmacies.
She said concessions would likely be made to people on health care cards and pensions so that they can afford the tests.
Meanwhile, people in Ipswich are waiting about three hours for a PCR test and about 96 hours for a result, according to posts shared to social media.
The total number of Covid-19 cases in Lockyer Valley has also increased to 58, up from 46 on Friday.
Two of these cases were acquired overseas, nine locally from a known source, one locally from an unknown source, and 46 remain under investigation.
These new figures come as Queensland records 4249 new cases overnight and a Gold Coast man in his late 30s passes away from “probable” Covid-19.
Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard warned on Monday morning that all of the state’s residents would be exposed to the virus within weeks, so it was imperative people get their booster shot.
There are now 10 Queensland Covid-19 patients in ICU, including one on a ventilator, while 147 people are in hospital.
A total of 126,413 vaccine doses have been administered in West Moreton, including seven on December 31.
The region has a total of 1027 cases, with 196 active and 86 recovered.
From December 31, Queensland Health is only notifying the public of major outbreak venues or “super-spreader” events in the state.
As such, Queenslanders have taken it upon themselves to share locations Covid-positive people have frequented.
See a full list of recent exposure sites, according to members of the Ipswich community, below.
NEW EXPOSURE SITES
WOOLWORTHS BROOKWATER – December 27 and 31
A Covid-positive person has shared her movements over the past few days to Facebook.
The woman checked into Woolworths Brookwater using the Check in Qld app on December 27 at 3.32pm, visiting the same supermarket two days later, on December 31, at 3.08pm.
WOOLWORTHS, SHOPPING CENTRE BOOVAL — December 29
A person who tested positive for Covid-19, according to a Facebook post, checked into Woolworths Booval using the Check in Qld app on December 29 at 8.06pm.
The same person entered the Booval Fair Shopping Centre just after 8pm.
IPSWICH TURF CLUB — December 29
A woman has shared a post to Facebook stating her partner’s son, who tested positive for Covid-19 on December 30, visited Ipswich Turf Club the day prior on December 29 at 4.48pm.
COLES SILKSTONE — December 29
A post shared to social media has claimed that a Covid-positive person visited Coles Silkstone Village on the afternoon of December 29, checking in with the Check in Qld app at 4.06pm.
COTTON ON ORION SPRINGFIELD – December 27
According to a post on Facebook, a Covid-positive person visited Cotton On Orion Springfield on December 27 at 2.47pm.
RED ROOSTER GOODNA — December 27
A woman who tested positive for Covid-19 on December 28 stated in a post on Facebook that she had visited Red Rooster Goodna the day prior, at 10.25am on December 27.
SPRINGFIELD TRAIN LINE – December 24 and 27
A woman shared a post to Facebook on January 2, stating her daughter who had tested positive for Covid-19 had been on a Springfield train line twice over the past week.
She said her daughter had been on the Springfield train line to Indooroopilly on both December 24 and 27.
ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH – December 25 and 26
St Paul’s Ipswich shared a post to its Facebook on January 1 stating a Covid-positive person had visited its site on the afternoons of December 25 and 26.
The post stated there was an “extremely low” risk of exposure at the morning service on December 26, given the time that had elapsed between the Covid-positive person’s presence on December 25 and the service the next morning.
It noted that people were now required to wear face masks while in the church, including during services, in line with Queensland’s new rules.
PREVIOUS EXPOSURE SITES
COLLINGWOOD PARK SCHOOL – December 20 to 24
A post shared to Facebook stated a parent infected with Covid-19 attended Collingwood Park State School OSHC at Ipswich between December 20 and 24, during its last week of vacation care.
The centre will reportedly undergo a “deep clean” before reopening on January 10.
CARINITY COLTHUP MANOR
Aged care community Carinity Colthup Manor, located on Thorn St at Ipswich, released a statement on December 30 explaining that a fully vaccinated staff member had tested positive for Covid-19.
Non-essential visits to Colthup Manor have been suspended until further notice and virus testing will be arranged for all residents and staff.
“We have implemented infection control procedures, including staff wearing full personal protective equipment and limiting resident movement within the community,” Carinity said in a statement.
“Enhanced monitoring of residents for any Covid-19 symptoms has commenced.”
KITCHENTOPIA – December 23 and 24
Kitchenware and eco lifestyle product shop Kitchentopia shared a post to Facebook on the evening of December 28 which stated one of its owners had tested positive for Covid-19.
Co-owner Sammi stated it was possible he had been infectious since December 23.
“Nathan attended our stall at Springfield Markets on Thursday (December 23) and worked in our shop on Friday (December 24),” Sammi wrote.
“Neither our shop nor our stall has been classed as a close contact site at this stage but we would prefer to let everyone know, and if you are having any symptoms please go and get a test.”
Sammi said Nathan had been in isolation since his symptoms started.
The shop at 81 Brisbane St, Ipswich will be closed until further notice.
GOODSTART – December 22 and 23
According to a Facebook post, Goodstart Early Learning Bellbird Park was advised on Tuesday December 28 to close temporarily due to a team member testing positive for the virus.
It is understood the Covid-positive worker attended the centre on December 22 and 23.
ORION LAGOON – December 22
Ipswich City Council has confirmed that a worker at Orion Lagoon at Springfield had tested positive for Covid-19.
A council spokesman said an employee of the contractor who operates the water park on behalf of ICC received the positive test result for Covid-19 after 11am on Tuesday December 28.
However, he said the worker first noticed symptoms of feeling unwell on December 22, voluntarily went for a Covid-19 test, and began isolating.
“Test results were not received until (Tuesday), but the individual has not been in the community during this time,” the spokesman said.
“Since receiving this positive notification, the pool operator in conjunction with (the) council and Queensland Health has identified any close contacts of the worker and they are now all in isolation as well, pending the results of their own Covid-19 tests.”
Orion Lagoon reopened at 8am on Sunday January 2, with normal opening times and operating hours recommencing Monday January 3.
CHEMPRO KARALEE – December 21
Karalee Chempro Chemist shared a post to its Facebook page on December 23, stating staff had been notified of a positive Covid-19 case on December 21.
The chemist stated any person who visited the store on December 21 was considered a low risk casual contact, meaning they must immediately get tested and quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
By Tuesday December 28, most of the staff had reportedly received their second PCR and all were negative.
“The remaining staff members are still waiting their second PCR test result for them to be able to return back to work but everyone received negative result on their first PCR test,” a Karalee Chempro Chemist Facebook post read.
BIG W ORION – December 20 and 21
According to a post on Facebook, an employee at Big W, located within Orion Springfield Central, tested positive for Covid-19.
It is understood the worker was at the site from 1pm to 10pm on December 20 and from 1pm to 3.50pm on December 21.
GUARDIAN SPRINGFIELD – December 20 and 21
A Facebook post shared a screenshot of an email sent from Guardian Childcare & Education to families, stating a team member who attended the centre recently had tested positive for Covid-19.
Guardian stated the team member was asymptomatic while at the centre, but was there before 7.30am and in nursery room number two between 6.30am and 3pm on December 20.
It is understood the worker was also at the centre after 5.30pm and in nursery room two between 10am and 6.30pm on December 21.
GE BUILDING SPRINGFIELD
Probe Group workers at Springfield’s GE building have claimed they were directed to get tested for Covid-19 and isolate on Christmas Eve after a Covid-positive person visited the business hub.
According to a post on social media, people working on level five of the building were deemed close contacts.
The date or dates of exposure are unclear and have not been confirmed by either Queensland Health or workers at Springfield’s GE building.
IPSWICH COURTHOUSE – December 14
Queensland Health identified Ipswich Courthouse’s main entrance and Justice of the Peace area as exposure sites last month.
The exposure date and time previously listed on the government website was December 14, between 11.40am and 11.55am.
Queensland Health stated those in the location at the relevant time were considered casual contacts.
REDBANK PLAINS FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE – December 14
According to Queensland Health, Redbank Plains Family Health Centre on Redbank Plains Rd, Ipswich was an exposure site.
People who visited the centre between 10.40am and 11.40am on December 14 were considered casual contacts and were advised to get tested.
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