Qld records one new local case as authorities warn Delta is still ‘serious’

The Sunshine State has recorded just one new case of Covid-19 on Saturday, but authorities say they had been in the community for days.

Queensland has recorded one new Covid-19 case in the past 24 hours, with authorities warning they had been in the community while infectious for five days.

It was revealed the woman who was a “person of interest” on Friday had now tested positive.

Contact tracers are working to determine the source of infection but believe she was a casual contact from a Bunnings store that was listed as an exposure site.

She was unknowingly infectious in the Gold Coast community from December 6 to December 10.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the “good news” was that genome sequencing found the new case had the Delta strain.

But she warned that variant was still serious.

“Let’s not treat Delta like it’s not a big deal. It is highly contagious and is can cause serious illness and death,” the Minister said.

“Just because it’s not Omicron, doesn’t mean it’s not serious.

“If you are unwell, don’t ignore those symptoms, come out now and find out if you have Covid, because it is possible.”

One new Covid-19 case was recorded in Queensland on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Ms D’Ath said she hoped everything would go “smoothly” when Queensland reopens its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers on Monday.

She said authorities based their plan on South Australia’s that opened up on November 23.

“We have done such a great job for almost two years of keeping this virus at bay. Now we are accepting we’re going to have cases — many hundreds, if not thousands over the next 12 months.

“We have to do it sensibly and responsibly.”

According to Saturday’s figures, there are now 46 active infections across the state.

More than 9200 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, but Ms D’Ath said she wanted that number to be higher, particularly on the Gold Coast.

“When we have so many cases coming out at the moment, we'd expect to see so many more people getting tested.

More than 88 per cent of residents aged 16 and over have had at least one dose of the vaccine, while 80.61 per cent are double jabbed.

A Bunnings store at Maroochydore is listed as an exposure site. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

A list of new Gold Coast exposure sites was announced on Friday as six new cases were recorded.

Ms D’Ath on Friday said four of those cases were believed to be locally acquired while the other two were from interstate arrivals.

Shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, a local souvenir shop and a Bunnings store are among the listed exposure locations.

The Broadbeach State School was also forced to shut down after an infected person was on the campus.

Parents were told students needed to stay home, get tested and isolate.

Broadbeach State School was closed on Friday after revelations an infected person was on campus.

Originally published as Qld records one new local case as authorities warn Delta is still ‘serious’