NEW DETAILS: Moreton Bay coronavirus case numbers revealed

New statistics released today by the Queensland Government show how many confirmed COVID-19 cases there have been in the Moreton Bay region and where people acquired the virus.

A TOTAL of 95 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Moreton Bay region with 82 of those contracted from overseas.

The figures come from the Queensland Government released COVID-19 data for each local government area today.

Also from the numbers nine people were infected locally and one interstate with contact known, while one other is still under investigation.

There were also two locally acquired cases with no known contact within the figures.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

One of the first people to die from the coronavirus in Australia, 75-year-old Caboolture woman Karla Lake, was treated at the Caboolture Hospital where she passed away last month.

Mrs Lake contracted the virus while on the Ruby Princess cruise ship while travelling with her husband Graeme.

Karla Rose Lake, 75, was a passenger on-board the Ruby Princess. She died from COVID-19 in Caboolture Hospital at 2am on Sunday, March 29.

She is one of three deaths from the virus recorded in the Metro North region which currently has 76 active cases (as at time of publishing) and 235 recovered cases.

Before the death of Mrs Lake a Bribie Island woman, living in a retirement village, also tested positive to the virus following a European vacation and travel on a cruise ship.

The woman was taken to hospital from the Gem Life Bribie Island Over 50s village on March 22 after becoming unwell.

Health Hub Doctors Morayfield now has a dedicated respiratory centre for coronavirus testing and treatment.

In response to the spread two dedicated COVID-19 community testing clinics were established including the first Australian indigenous only fever clinic in Caboolture which opened last week.

The Morayfield clinic, operated by Health Hub Doctors Morayfield, began the first community testing in Queensland on March 21 with the clinic’s director Dr Evan Jones saying earlier this month the importance of community testing was critical.

He told Quest News it “is necessary for us to move to more of a Singaporean model which is to test anyone with symptoms and to contact trace those who test positive for COVID-19”.

“So it is very important for anyone with respiratory symptoms to come in and be tested,” he said.

The new indigenous only COVID-19 fever clinic at Caboolture. Photo supplied for Redcliffe Herald

The impacts of the coronavirus spread are being felt not just by individuals succumbing to the virus but Moreton Bay Region has experienced widespread impacts to businesses with Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT) launching a strategic campaign #MoretonBayTough to cope with the dramatic changes.

The shop local campaign launched earlier this month aims to keep local business across the region afloat, the MBRIT said in its campaign launch.

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Moreton Bay Regional Council’s new Mayor Peter Flannery said today “as a group our, laser focus every day must be on getting local families through the months ahead”.

“These are extraordinary times, which means we must take extraordinary actions to make sure Moreton Bay Region is at the forefront of Queensland’s economic recovery.

“There are dark days ahead, but there will also be opportunities, so it’s the jobs of the new council to work together in shaping a strong agenda of new initiatives and policies that will see our region bounce back from the worst effects of this pandemic.”

Cr Flannery said Moreton Bay locals had been “locals have been remarkable in abiding by social distancing rules when using our parks and beaches and following government advice”.

“Those people who have contracted the virus have done the right thing, and immediately gone into self-isolation to keep our community safe.

“So even though Moreton Bay Region is the third largest council in the country and home to 459,600 people, we’ve only seen 11 local transmissions.”

Cr Flannery said locals had been “proactive in keeping themselves and their families informed of the spread of this crisis.”

He said the call centre was hit with influx of calls earlier this month but not all calls were about the pandemic itself.

“It was from locals wanting advice on how to access our $15 million stimulus package,” Cr Flannery said.

“Residents have been calling to check their eligibility for our $7 million rates rebate, $5 million community grant funding and $2 million food licence fees refund.”