Qld COVID-19 cases soar 380 per cent in a week

Queensland coronavirus cases have jumped by a huge 380 per cent in just a week, with one of the latest patients testing positive after working at a Gold Coast after-school care service despite having symptoms.

This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. For full access to Courier Mail/Quest journalism, subscribe here

QUEENSLAND cases of COVID-19 have soared by more than 380 per cent in a week, with one of the latest patients testing positive after working at a Gold Coast after-school care service despite having symptoms.

New cases jumped by 37 on Saturday, taking the state’s total to 221, including a worker at the YMCA Helensvale Outside School Hours Care Service. Despite constant messages imploring Queenslanders to stay home while unwell, the employee went to work for “a number of days” with symptoms.

A week ago, Queensland had 46 cases.

VIRUS BREAKDOWN: QLD’S 221 COVID-19 CASES IN DETAIL

QLD ORDERS EXTRA FLU VACCINES AS CORONAVIRUS CASES MOUNT

DESPERATE PLEA FOR BLOOD DONORS AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Cleaning Staff at the Helensvale State School after a case of COVID-19. Photo: Steve Holland

The latest cases include a baby. Ages range from one to 75, with most cases still confined to the state’s southeast.

Queensland Health said the majority of new COVID-19 patients had been overseas or in contact with a confirmed case.

Health Minister Steven Miles said Queensland Health staff were contacting parents of children who attended the Helensvale after-school care service.

The service, which operates in a building on the grounds of the Helensvale State School, offers places for about 130 students.

Anyone who has had contact with the infected worker will be required to go into home quarantine for 14 days.

Education Queensland said in a statement specialist cleaners would be brought into the school to undertake “an infection prevention clean”.

The after-school care run by the YMCA at Helensvale is being thoroughly cleaned after a confirmed case of COVID-19. Picture: Steve Holland

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young yesterday repeated her pleas for people to stay home if unwell to protect vulnerable members of the community from a range of respiratory illnesses, including the novel coronavirus.

“That’s absolutely critical,” she said.

As the ripple effect of COVID-19 on Australian life turns into a tsunami, Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said he had received reports that some pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants were failing to comply with the density cap of one person per four square metres – about one person in an area the size of a double bed doona.

He said it was imperative venues took steps to ensure social distancing measures brought in to control the spread of COVID-19 were adhered to.

“We will continue to work with them and provide advice to them,” Mr Miles said.

“At this time it’s incredibly important that everyone in our community follows that advice. If we work together, if we stick together, we will be able to keep more people out of hospital. We will be able to keep more people alive. That’s ultimately our objective.”

Mr Miles said that under the Public Health Act in Queensland, non-essential indoor gatherings of 100 people or more were banned as part of measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“If you go to a venue and it is crowded, you should know that it’s not good for your health or the health of the other people there for you to stay there. Go somewhere less crowded, go home,” he said.

“I spent last night watching the football on the couch with my family. One of my mates thought it would be funny to send over a six pack of Coronas so I had a Corona and watched the Broncos have a win.

“Spending time at home, spending time with your loved ones is exactly how we’re going to make it through this health emergency.”

Mr Miles said if venues failed to comply with the new social distancing regulations, they may face fines.

“Over time, if we have to, we will move to that level of enforcement but we hope we don’t have to,” he said.

Dr Young foreshadowed the possibility of stopping domestic travel and closing entertainment venues, such as pubs and nightclubs, if COVID-19 cases started to spin out of control.

“All of those things are up for discussion,” she said.

“It depends how we go. At the moment, we’re seeing that small number of increase in cases each day. We’ve had 50, we’ve had 40, then today, 37. We’re hovering around those numbers which means we’re keeping it under control. We’ve got it in hand.”

For information, ring 13 HEALTH.