Ipswich records 592 Covid-19 cases as CHO issues NYE plea

Ipswich’s total number of Covid-19 cases has reached 592, up 136 from Thursday, as Queensland’s chief health officer urges people who feel ill to stay home on New Year’s Eve. SEE THE UPDATED EXPOSURE SITES LIST

More than 130 people in Ipswich have contracted Covid-19 in just 24 hours as Queensland prepares for a “substantial wave” of cases.

Of the city’s 592 total cases, 32 were acquired overseas, 69 were acquired locally from a known contact, 21 were acquired locally from an unknown contact, and two were acquired interstate.

A significant number of Ipswich cases — 468 — are “under investigation”.

Lockyer Valley has recorded a total of 46 Covid-19 cases, up from 27 on Thursday.

Two cases were acquired overseas, eight were acquired locally from a known contact, one was acquired locally from an unknown contact, and the source of infection for 35 cases remains unknown.

This comes as Queensland records 3118 new cases overnight in what chief health officer Dr John Gerrard has called the beginning of a “substantial wave” of Covid-19.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard delivered a Covid-19 update at Southbank on December 31. Picture: Tara Croser

There are 11,697 active cases in the state, with 2227 people being cared for at home and 126 people in hospital. One person, a man in his 50s, is in ICU.

Queensland is now 86.3 per cent fully vaccinated.

More than 125,800 vaccine doses have been administered in the West Moreton region, including 620 on Thursday.

During a press conference on Friday morning, Dr Gerrard warned the state would continue to see an increase in Covid-19 case numbers in January and urged people to stay home on New Year’s Eve if they felt ill.

“If you have any respiratory symptoms there is a good chance it’s going to be Covid,” he said.

Meanwhile, Queensland has adopted a new definition of a Covid-19 close contact and made changes to isolation periods for people who have tested positive.

Close contacts, except in exceptional circumstances, are now those who share a household with a confirmed case.

With Queensland Health no longer publicising Covid-19 exposure sites, the Queensland Times has compiled a list of locations across the Ipswich and Lockyer Valley regions that reportedly have been frequented by a person who has tested positive for the virus.

NEW 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.”

PREVIOUS EXPOSURE SITES

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 one of its workers 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 will remain closed until both the site and staff have been cleared to reopen.

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.

Karalee Chempro Chemist reportedly had a Covid-positive person come through its doors 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 has identified Ipswich Courthouse’s main entrance and Justice of the Peace area as exposure sites.

The exposure date and time listed on the government website is December 14, between 11.40am and 11.55am.

Queensland Health stated those in the location at the relevant time are considered casual contacts.

REDBANK PLAINS FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE – December 14

According to Queensland Health, Redbank Plains Family Health Centre on Redbank Plains Rd, Ipswich is an exposure site.

People who visited the centre between 10.40am and 11.40am on December 14 are considered casual contacts and are advised to get tested.