Balonne Shire Council Mayor says close Covid contact a timely reminder to remain vigilant

The state’s southwest has been put on alert after a truckie that visited Bollon and St George tested positive to Covid-19.

Western Queensland is on alert after two new community acquired cases of Covid-19 were linked to truckies who had travelled from New South Wales into Queensland.

The two truck drivers, who live on the Sunshine Coast and in the Somerset region, were detected by NSW authorities and tested positive to Covid-19 in NSW, but have since tested negative in Queensland.

One of the truck drivers had travelled through Balonne Shire and stopped at both Bollon and St George.

Residents in southwest Queensland are being urged to get tested if they have any symptoms after a truck driver that visited Bollon and St George tested positive to Covid. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Balonne Shire Council Mayor Samantha O’Toole said the community was apprehensive but calm.

“At this stage there’s not a lot of further information, we’re awaiting further testing from NSW to come back, but the case is still considered low risk for the community,” Ms O’Toole said.

“Any close contacts have been notified and are now isolating.

“I think the community is apprehensive but calm, we’ve had a few people come forward and get tested but our clinics haven’t been overrun, things have been generally calm.”

Ms O’Toole said with the council sharing a southern boundary with the NSW border, this recent case was a reminder to be alert to the threat of Covid.

“The community has to be vigilant, if anyone is unwell they need to get tested and use the Check In Qld app so we contact trace any close contacts,” she said.

“Thankfully we’ve got one of the highest rates of vaccination in the state, but we’re still encouraging people to access clinics that are on this week and get vaccinated.”

Chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young confirmed the truck drivers acquired the virus in the community.

Both men had been retested and came back negative with authorities now determining what is happening.

“I think the risk is very low,” Dr Young said.

“One stayed overnight in St George, so we will be putting up a number of exposure sites.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said authorities could not emphasise enough the importance of getting vaccinated.

Originally published as Balonne Shire Council Mayor says close Covid contact a timely reminder to remain vigilant