Covid Qld: Covid cases revealed as new mass-vaccination hub launched amid footy finals fever

The Queensland Premier has once again defended her tough border stance amid calls to reopen when the state hits 80 per cent vaccinated, saying it would be a backwards step.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has once again defended her tough border stance amid calls to reopen when the state hits 80 per cent vaccinated, saying it would be a backwards step for freedoms for people in the Sunshine State.

Queensland recorded two new cases overnight – one locally acquired but isolated at home, and the other acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine.

By contrast, Victoria has recorded its highest daily Covid case figure this year, 766 and four deaths, while NSW recorded another 1063 cases and six deaths as the Delta outbreak continues to spread

Speaking at the launch of a new mass-vaccination hub at Pinkenba, the Premier pointed out that Queenslanders are currently enjoying more freedoms than those proposed under the southern states’ plans to ease restrictions at 80 per cent vaccinated.

“At the moment, Queenslanders have more freedoms now that Victorians will when they reach 80 per cent vaccinated,” she said.

“In Victoria, at 80 per cent, they will be allowed 30 people to visit for Christmas dinner. Here, Queenslanders can have 100 people over.

“I’m sick of constantly being attacked for doing the right thing.

“Down in Victoria, they’re going through a horrendous time at the moment, where people can’t go to work and kids can’t go to schools. It’s affecting their mental health and I don’t want that for Queensland.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Pic Cody Fox

The Premier confirmed Queensland has recorded two new Covid-19 cases as she attends the launch of the latest mass-vaccination hub, where a few lucky people have earned free NRL finals tickets.

One of the new cases was locally acquired and linked to the Sunnybank cluster, but was in home quarantine when detected. The second case was acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young thanked the family of a student at St Thomas More college who was a close contact with a previous case, and who has now tested positive.

Dr Young said the case proved how vital it was people who are required to quarantine comply with the direction.

She said the sooner Queenslanders get vaccinated the sooner restrictions could be removed.

“Don’t wait for the cyclone,” she said.

The CHO said as well as walk-ins for individuals and families, the new Pinkenba facility was designed to assist workgroups attending together, organising a bus, and getting a large number of staff vaccinated at the same time.

Dr Young said the Pinkenba vaccination centre would be offering a free bus to nearby businesses to make it easier for workers to get protected.

“We’re doing everything we can to make vaccination as easy as possible because the sooner we’ve got Queenslanders fully vaccinated, the sooner we can remove so many of the restrictions that we’ve had for a long time,” she said.

“That would be excellent.”

She said just like planning for a cyclone, where people made preparations before it hit, Queenslanders shouldn’t wait for an outbreak to get inoculated.

Ms Palaszczuk said 61 per cent of Queenslanders had received their first dose.

The Premier, speaking at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, said anyone could visit the facility to be vaccinated.

“Please come and get vaccinated,” she said.

Jai Edmunds is the first person to be vaccinated at the Pinkenba COVID Vaccination Hub at Brisbane International Cruise Terminal and received a free NRL finals ticket. Picture: Richard Walker

The Premier said more people needed to get the jab.

“We’ve got to keep getting it higher,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would like to see Queensland-based cruises to start - pledging to work with the industry and putting the proposal to national cabinet.

“We’re a few months off that of course,” she said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said Moderna was now available at community pharmacies.

She said people who have a vaccine booking for later this month or next should go online and attempt to rebook earlier.

Ms D’Ath reminded Queenslanders of how a situation can get out of control from just one case.

“From just one case on June 16 there has been more than 56,000 cases and unfortunately, many deaths,” Ms D’Ath said.

Ms D’Ath said from just one case in June, jurisdictions across Australia and New Zealand have been impacted.

There were 13,899 Covid tests undertaken in the past 24 hours and Queensland Health administered 24,229 vaccines on Wednesday.

That brings the eligible vaccinated population to 61.53 per cent of people who have received their first dose, and 42.87 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.

The Premier wanted to thank the NRL for offering tickets for the preliminary and grand final matches, incentivising people getting vaccinated, and for helping establish pop-up vaccine hubs at the stadiums.

Free tickets to this weekend’s finals are on offer to those who get their Pfizer shot, in a footy fever vaccine push featuring pop-up clinics at games in the race to protect the state.

Jai Edmunds, 16, was the first to be vaccinated at Queensland Health’s newest walk-in Pfizer hub, at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, and scored a ticket for his efforts.

The family live in Manly but Jai’s mother, Sam Edmunds, said she heard about the promotion on her way to work this morning and brought her son down just after the hub opened at 8:30am.

“Jai got his jab today and then my other two children are coming back tomorrow to get theirs,” Ms Edmunds said.

“My husband and I were already going to the Manly game tomorrow night but now all three children will be able to come to the preliminary final as well.”

Ms Edmund said the new location was in a great spot with “heaps of signage” but “there wasn’t enough of a promotion around it being a Pfizer-only hub”.

“Parents and families need to be made more aware of Pfizer-only hubs like this – especially during the school holidays,” she said.

Ms Edmunds said that although there is a walk-in option, all three of her children decided to register online.

“There were heaps of bookings available online…if anyone is yet to receive their jab I would encourage them to jump on the Queensland Health website and take advantage of this hub and the current offer of free NRL tickets,” she said.

Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said 220 vehicles had been turned away at the state’s borders.

He called for people to be compliant, with police doing 100 per cent compliance checks.

Four penalties were issued overnight, including three at the border for people providing false information.

Originally published as Covid Qld: Covid cases revealed as new mass-vaccination hub launched amid footy finals fever