Gold Coast Covid case recorded at Robina Town Centre, Rebel Sport, B Hi-Fi, Robina Target and Dan Murphys Nerang
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed there were zero new locally acquired Covid cases, however six were detected in quarantine. WATCH LIVE
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed there were zero new locally acquired Covid cases, however six were detected in quarantine.
COVID-19 Update: The Queensland Premier is speaking in Brisbane. #covid19https://t.co/920HsVkHjX
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 5, 2021
Acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken said they were able to link the Robina case from last week with the recent case who was a worker at an aged care home in Mudgeeraba.
He said they still did not know where the Coast cases originated from.
“The staff at the Mudgeeraba aged care home are 100 per cent vaccinated,” Dr Aitken said.
“They were all tested yesterday and we will get results back today however none of them are symptomatic.”
The Premier said Queensland had reached 87.2 per cent first dose and 78.12 per fully vaccination.
She said they were monitoring the numbers closely in the lead up to opening the Qld border on December 17.
Three new exposure sites were added overnight including a Myer’s and Big W.
Tuesday, November 30 at Big W in Robina Town Centre from 9.15am to 1.30pm.
Tuesday, November 30 at Robina Town Centre from 9.15am to 1.30pm.
Tuesday, November 30 at Myer in Robina Town Centre from 11am to 12.15am.
Queensland recorded three new community cases on Wednesday – two of which were a couple on the Gold Coast.
The couple were infectious in the community for up to 13 days.
One of the new Gold Coast cases was a staff member at an aged care home in Mudgeeraba, where residents were on Saturday being urgently tested for the virus.
SATURDAY, DEC 4
SIX new Gold Coast exposure sites have been added after a couple tested positive to Covid-19.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath provided an update on Saturday morning stating four cases of Covid-19 were recorded in hotel quarantine and three new cases locally acquired.
One of the new Gold Coast cases is a staff member at an aged care home in Mudgeeraba, where residents were on Saturday being urgently tested for the virus.
THE NEW EXPOSURE SITES:
Friday November 25, Woolworths Supermarket – Level 1 in Robina Town Centre from 9.25am to 10.45am.
Saturday November 27, Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse in Robina Town Centre from 9.20am to 10am.
Sunday November 28 at ALDI in Mudgeeraba from 3pm to 3.40pm.
Monday November 29 at ALDI in Mudgeeraba from 2pm to 2.40pm.
Tuesday November 30 at the United Service Station in Mudgeeraba from 9am to 9.30am.
Thursday December 2 at Dan Murphy’s in Nerang from 3pm to 3.30pm.
THREATS, CRASHES AND A MIRACLE ESCAPE: INSIDE AMBOS’ WILD NIGHT ON GOLD COAST
WEDNESDAY, DEC 1
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were three new cases reported in Queensland overnight, two were acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine and one was detected in the community.
The new case was reported late on Wednesday afternoon and was a fully vaccinated man who has been infectious in the community for three days. He visited Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast on November 26.
The Premier said because the Gold Coast was a tourism centre she wanted to see higher vaccination rates across the region. Across Queensland 86.65 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated, with 76.8 per cent having had one dose.
She said the locally acquired case was unlikely to be the new Omicron variant, but further testing was underway. Residents are urged to keep getting vaccinated, use the check-in app and keep getting tested.
Overnight Queensland Health administered more than 11,000 vaccines and undertook more than 10,000 tests.
Ms Palaszczuk before the latest Covid case on the Gold Coast warned the city’s residents to improve their vaccination rates. At state parliament on Wednesday, she told the House: “Once again, we still need to see the Gold Coast to lift. They are currently at 85.6 per cent. They are a tourism destination. I absolutely need them to increase vaccination levels on the Gold Coast.”
The Gold Coast has recorded a new case of Covid and tracing confirms the person was infectious at Robina Town Centre.
But authorities are confident the patient does not have the new Omicron variant.
The Bulletin can reveal a person who has tested positive to Covid was at the Robina Town Centre on November 26.
Queensland Health announced four new contract tracing sites on the Gold Coast – Robina Town Centre, Robina Rebel Sport, Robina JB Hi-Fi and Robina Target.
They were all visited on November 26 between 1.30 and 2.30pm.
A Queensland Health spokesperson said: “We can confirm that there is a new positive Covid-19 case on the Gold Coast.
“Investigation is underway to determine the source of infection and further information will be released when it is available tomorrow (Thursday).
“The case has visited the Robina Town Centre during the Black Friday shopping sales, so we would urge anyone who has visited the location or has symptoms, no matter how mild, to come forward and get tested.
“This is a timely reminder for all Queenslanders to regularly monitor the list of exposure venues on the Queensland Health website and follow the public health advice, as there may be more locations.”
More to come.
Coast takes in ‘low-risk’ quarantinees after hotel fire
November 30, 2021
The Gold Coast has taken in “low-risk” travellers from Cairns after a woman allegedly destroyed part of a Covid-19 quarantine hotel in Cairns City on November 28.
Police charged a 31-year-old with arson, alleging she lit a fire underneath a bed in the room where she had been staying with two children.
The blaze was extinguished however the building suffered significant damage.
A Queensland Health spokesman said travellers from other states were tested and then relocated to quarantine hotels on the Gold Coast, where there was “sufficient capacity to accommodate them”.
Overseas arrivals were relocated to quarantine hotels in Cairns, reducing transit time.
“All of the quarantine hotels in Queensland have well-worked and rehearsed evacuation plans,” he said.
GP’s unusual Omicron warning
GOLD Coast doctors say they’re not “surprised” another Covid variant has emerged, and they’re calling for calm in the community and a measured response from authorities.
“This is not unusual, it’s not a surprise that the Omicron variant has been discovered, because that’s what viruses do, mutate,” said Dr Sonu Haikerwal, previous head of the Gold Coast Medical Association.
“While we don’t know too much about it yet, it’s probably more transmissible because that’s what usually happens when a virus mutates.”
Dr Haikerwal was critical of “kneejerk” reactions from governments, saying there was no need to segregate, separate or put more walls up.
“We need people to remain calm, and Australia needs to continue its road map for opening up internally so we can again be one nation.
“The global response seems to be very much trying to contain the spread of this, but it’s already too late, by the time they discover it it’s already everywhere.
“To our leaders I say, ‘don’t panic, stay calm’, and it’s about living in our new normal and remaining vigilant in protecting ourselves from the virus.”
Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Head of Emergencies, stressed the importance of waiting to see what the data showed.
“We’ve seen in the past, the minute there’s any kind of mention of any kind of variation and everyone is closing borders and restricting travel. It’s really important that we remain open, and stay focused,” he said.
General Practice Gold Coast chairwoman Dr Kat McLean said Omicron was not a surprise and new strains remained a constant risk.
“In terms of the world it really is hitting home that we aren’t safe here in Australia until everyone in every country is safe,” she said.
“This new variant occurring was not unpredicted and there will unfortunately be more. This is the reality of living with Covid.
“Unfortunately it’s too early to tell if Omicron results in milder or more severe infections. We must look to data, not anecdotes and be guided by the science as it evolves.
“Stay calm, but be alert.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coast Health Primary Network board member, GP Dr Lisa Beecham, urged residents to stay the course by getting vaccinated, having a booster if it’s been six months since they’re second dose and maintaining good hygiene and continuing to socially distance.
“Even one jab after two weeks gives some good protection,” said Dr Beecham.
“Do the vaccination for those under 12 who can’t and the elderly family members who are still more vulnerable even if they are double vaxxed.
“For people who are scared of the vaccine, see a GP, we can talk through the true facts.”
Dr Haikerwal said the pandemic was not going away and everyone needed to learn to live in a new normal, this included doing what worked, masks, good hand hygiene and vaccines.
“The fear and uncertainty of this pandemic is huge, the speculation beyond facts and information is huge and it’s taking a toll on our mental health,” she said.
“We need to fundamentally change the tone of how we report on new variants, because life hasn’t stopped, let’s count our blessings and stick to our road map.
“And instead of turning our backs on countries such as South Africa, we must work towards equity, send vaccines over there.”
It comes as South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issued a statement urging world leaders “not to engage in knee-jerk reactions” and cautioned against the imposition of travel restrictions.
A spokesperson said new variants had been detected in other countries and each of those cases had no recent links with Southern Africa.
“It’s worth noting that the reaction to those countries is starkly different to cases in Southern Africa,” they said.
“This latest round of travel bans is akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker.
“Excellent science should be applauded and not punished. The global community needs collaboration and partnerships in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Message from GPs:
* Immunisation if you haven’t already.
* Booster if you are due.
* Test if any symptoms – even if mild symptoms and you are immunised. Children too.
* Check in via the app – this really speeds up contact tracing.
* Ventilation – outdoors is safest. Open doors & windows.
* Keep a mask on hand. Recommend using masks indoors, especially as malls get busy with Christmas shopping. Also on public transport.
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