Fears Warwick Covid case could mark Delta strain’s dreaded arrival

‘It’s reasonably infectious and that’s the concern’: Experts have ramped up their urgent calls for residents to get the jab as the region looks down the barrel of a challenging outbreak of the Delta strain.

The Warwick community is being urged to remain calm, listen to expert advice, and get vaccinated as soon as possible following the town’s first confirmed case of Covid in close to two years.

Queensland Health confirmed on Wednesday morning that a person had tested positive for the virus in Warwick within the 24 hours prior, with the case believed to be linked to the cluster in Moree.

Deputy chief health officer Lynne McKinlay said the resident was unvaccinated, identified as First Nations, and had been infectious in the community for up to 10 days.

With the case only the second to hit Warwick since the pandemic began, Condamine Medical Centre co-owner Doctor Lynton Hudson said the virus’ return was “disappointing but inevitable”.

Condamine Medical Centre co-owner Dr Lynton Hudson said the centre had the staff and resources to open longer vaccination clinic hours if necessary. Photo Georja Ryan / Warwick Daily News

“If it’s the Delta strain, it’s as infectious as chickenpox, so it’s reasonably infectious and that’s the concern I suppose,” he said.

“With the chickenpox, usually family members will get that, which could mean quite close contacts could get that, but it’s yet to be confirmed either way.

“That’s why we’ve been working really hard to get people immunised. There’s a lot of the town that is now, which is good, and we all know what to do given it’s been out there for so long now.”

Dr Hudson said the community should trust Queensland Health contact tracers to keep affected residents informed and safe, but remained firm that the ultimate protection against Covid was vaccination.

“We’re getting good numbers through, and certainly have good numbers through our clinic,” he said.

“Obviously with Pfizer, the advantage is it’s just the three weeks rather than three months for the second vaccination, which allows us to get people vaccinated more quickly.”

Just over 67 per cent of Southern Downs residents were fully vaccinated against Covid as of Monday.

Carbal Medical Services CEO Brian Hewitt said the state’s indigenous vaccination rate was hovering near a much lower 30 per cent, with rife misinformation proving the biggest barrier to residents rolling up their sleeves.

“The problem is that the Indigenous community rely almost 100 per cent on social media for their information, and as we know, almost anything Covid-related on social media is nonsense and fabricated rubbish,” Mr Hewitt said.

“Over the last 18 months, it’s created an enormous vaccine hesitancy for those who just believe all these crazy theories about the risks of the vaccine, none of which hold water.

“That’s significant because the Indigenous community has a far higher ratio of chronic disease and medical issues that will make them very, very susceptible to the worst aspects of Covid.

“This is a public health and safety issue, that’s what it is, so it overrides the free choice and liberties we normally have.”

Mr Hewitt said Carbal was running an intensive social media campaign to try to encourage their 10,000 clients to “do the right thing for the right reasons”, but numbers remained too low to protect against an outbreak.

The message from Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi was one of patience and caution, with residents encouraged to wear a mask in public when social distancing was not possible.

“We’re working closely with the health department in relation to this. Obviously traceability is important, and we’re doing that as we speak,” Cr Pennisi said.

“Were they walking up and down the main street of Warwick, was he in Stanthorpe, or Killarney? We don’t know, so we just need to keep clean and stay separated until such time as we know more.”

Queensland Health has listed Condamine Sports Club on November 2, 1pm -2pm and Warwick RSL on November 3, 8.40pm - 9.10pm as casual contact venues at this stage.

Anyone at those sites within relevant times should get a Covid test as soon as possible and quarantine until they receive a negative result.

Both pubs have posted statements to social media reporting all affected staff have been sent home and been tested for the virus.

St Mary’s Primary School sent a letter to parents on Wednesday afternoon acknowledging members of the school community were casual contacts of the case.

A temporary Covid testing clinic has been opened at the Warwick Showgrounds from 8am - 4pm weekdays, alongside existing sites at Sullivan Nicolaides and the Condamine Medical Centre’s Guy Street fever clinic.

Warwick Hospital is reportedly closed to visitors.