Number of Sunshine Coast people exposed to Covid-19 grows to more than 1000, 700 test negative

The number of people potentially exposed to a Victorian couple who tested positive to Covid-19 on the Sunshine Coast has increased to more than 1000.

Covid-19 testing staff at a drive through testing site Caloundra earlier this week. Picture Lachie Millard

More than 1000 people have been identified as contacts of a Melbourne couple who tested positive to Covid-19 in Caloundra after being out and about in the region, Queensland Health has confirmed.

A department spokesman said as of midday, June 16, there had been 1034 people identified in total, of which 201 were close contacts and 833 as casual.

A Queensland Health spokesman said of the close contacts, 171 have returned negative tests and of the other contacts 527 have returned negative tests.

It comes after the 44-year-old woman and her partner had allegedly escaped Melbourne lockdowns and travelled through regional NSW and into Queensland.

The pair visited several popular cafes and shopping centres at Moffat Beach, Buddina and Caloundra where they potentially exposed the 1034 people to the virus.

Members of the public lining up for a Covid-19 vaccination at the Golden Beach Vaccination Centre at Caloundra on Tuesday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Health authorities alleged the pair were detected “by chance”.

The couple remain at Sunshine Coast University Hospital where they are only being treated by staff who have received either one or two vaccination jabs.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has administered 1589 Covid-19 tests at its public fever clinics since June 10.

“It is this sort of vigilance and caring spirit that is keeping Queensland safe from Covid-19,” the spokesman said.

It comes after police revealed more than 100 passengers had tried to fly into Sunshine Coast from Melbourne since the southern city went into lockdown on May 28.

There were 1896 vaccinations administered on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, June 16, the majority out of the Caloundra Indoor Stadium.

It takes the total number of people to have received the vaccine in the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service region to 38,274.