Covid Gold Coast: Plea for city to avoid full lockdown after truckie tests positive

Mayor Tom Tate is pleading with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to not put the Gold Coast back into a full lockdown after a truckie tested positive for Covid after spending five days in the community.

MAYOR Tom Tate is pleading with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to not put the Gold Coast back into a full lockdown.

The city is on high alert after a truckie tested positive for Covid-19 after spending five days on the Gold Coast.

The Australian International Islamic College at Carrara has been closed for 14 days after a student allegedly boasting to classmates they had travelled to Melbourne, a city still in lockdown.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told parliament early indications were the family evaded detection by travelling to the Gold Coast via an inland route.

She said the family was in hotel quarantine but is “refusing to be tested and so far is not co-operating with authorities”.

Cr Tate urged Gold Coasters to get tested for Covid and cautioned Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk against “overreacting”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“As for the family, I will restrict my comments as clearly they are facing significant legal matters from their alleged actions,” he said.

“I urge state health officials and the Premier to not overreact by bringing in a citywide lockdown.

“Vaccination rates continue to climb and that’s great news for our city and state.

“If there is a need to undertake any form of lockdowns, I strongly urge the state to manage it on a suburb-by-suburb situation rather than again locking down multiple LGAs (Local Government Areas) as we experienced last month.’’

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