New case expected after popular southside restaurant precinct is added to exposure list

A new community case of Covid-19 is expected to be announced on Monday after a popular southside restaurant precinct was added to the state’s exposure site list.

At least one new community case of Covid-19 is expected to be announced on Monday after new exposure sites were added in Sunnybank and Eight Mile Plains.

Six new exposure sites were added just after 7pm on Sunday night including a close contact site at Pho Hien Vuong Restaurant in Market Square in Sunnybank on Thursday December 9.

The Men’s Toilet near the restaurant, the north east lift in Market Square and the Market Square car park were all also listed.

Market Square, corner of McCullough Street and Mains Road, Sunnybank, was added as an exposure site. Picture: Richard Walker.

Meanwhile, Liberty Service Station in Eight Mile Plains was listed as a low risk contact exposure site also from Thursday, December 9.

Queensland Health confirmed the new exposure sites were linked to a new case but could not confirm if it was multiple cases or a single case visiting different sites.

It comes as Queensland health officials warn that an explosion of Covid cases in Queensland is imminent as the state’s top cop warn travellers not to lie at the border.

As the state prepared to open Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she was confident the online border pass system would withstand the huge demand.

“We will be in many instances doing 100 per cent compliance or random intercepts so please don’t think that you will come to the border and you will easily get through,” she said.

Deputy Chief Health Officer James Smith said an explosion of cases was “imminent”.

“This is why we have been saying, there is no freedom day … it is a case that we absolutely need to prepare for cases, it will be difficult, there will be strain placed on the health system.”

Dr Smith confirmed children under 16 would not need to be vaccinated to attend a venue from this Friday, but said unvaccinated children who were deemed a “close contact” of a positive case would still have to home quarantine for 14 days.

Queensland has now reached 88.3 per cent for first Covid jabs and 81.2 per cent double dose.

Deputy CHO Dr James Smith says an explosion of Covid-19 cases is likely. File picture

Authorities are expected to announce at least one new case in the community today after six new exposure sites were listed for the Sunnybank area last night.

A man in his 30s who arrived from Nigeria also tested positive over the weekend.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said low case numbers could not continue.

“Families will be able to reunite for Christmas … But it also means more Covid is coming to Queensland,” he said.

Commissioner Carroll said she “cannot wait” until border checkpoints were removed, which is hoped to happen at 90 per cent fully vaccinated.

The State Government is yet to confirm border enforcement plans for when the milestone is reached.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said it was “magnificent” to be welcoming home Queenslanders who were shut-out of their own state.

“These weren’t people flouting the law,” he said.

“They were Queenslanders who went interstate to bury a loved one or they were there for work and they were shut-out with two hours’ notice.

“ … we say to them all that we love them and welcome them home and sorry for what they have gone through.”