Mutant UK COVID-19 strain: Gold Coast at risk as Brisbane faces lockdown
Making it down the M1 to the Gold Coast can be a daily struggle for commuters, but according to local doctors, the mutant strain of COVID-19 will have no trouble at all.
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MAKING it down the M1 can be a daily struggle for commuters, but according to local doctors, the mutant strain of COVID-19 on the loose in Brisbane will have no trouble at all.
Those on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic say Gold Coasters should not see themselves as any more protected than our Brisbane counterparts, as the state’s biggest city enters a three-day lockdown to stop further spread.
Gold Coast medicos are warning Gold Coasters to take extra precaution and plan a quiet weekend at home too despite not being forced into lockdown like Greater Brisbane.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk introduced the 72-hour lockdown on Greater Brisbane after a cleaner, who worked at Brisbane’s inner-city Hotel Grand Chancellor, contracted the highly-contagious UK strain of the virus.
The hotel has had four recent coronavirus cases all detected in quarantine. The lockdown from 6pm Friday excluded the Gold Coast.
But Dr Sonu Haikerwal, co-founder of Haan Health and running a respiratory clinic in Upper Coomera since April last year, says the Gold Coast should be on alert: “We should really be thinking of ourselves as an extension of Brisbane in this scenario, we are all so interconnected, especially the northern corridor.
“There is no border separating us, just a few kilometres, so we could certainly see a spread here if it isn’t contained.”
According to the leading GP, clinicians have been run off their feet testing locals who have travelled to hotspot areas in Brisbane, Byron and elsewhere.
On Monday alone 200 individuals were tested at the clinic and more are expected Friday.
“We are even opening tomorrow and Sunday to ensure everybody who has been to Brisbane can be tested,” Dr Hikerwal said.
“We have been testing a lot of people who have been on trains or have been to Brisbane or Logan for day trips.
“There are a couple of workers who have been to the same Woolworths as the known case.
“So getting tested is the key, the sooner we know if it has spread the better.”
The doctor warned even those experiencing mild symptoms like nausea, or tiredness to get tested, in order to prevent the need for a lockdown locally.
“It is the school holidays, people have been travelling all over so we urgently need to get this under control. A three-day lockdown is nothing compared to two months.”
“We are reminding everyone who has been to Brisbane in since January 2 to isolate for the next three days, even if you live on the Gold Coast this includes you."
Gold Coast General Practitioners Association head Dr Katrina McLean echoed the warnings.
“Although we have escaped the lockdown the Gold Coast is incredibly connected to Brisbane,” she said.
“The known case with the UK strain travelled on the Gold Coast to Brisbane train-line, it is all connected.
“My recommendation is that people on the Gold Coast need to be really cautious, plan a quiet weekend at home, avoid crowds and wear a mask if you need to be in enclosed spaces.
“The next few days are critical.”
Residents can access testing at a number of venues including the drop in fever clinics at the Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina or book ahead to avoid queues as respiratory clinics.
EARLIER: ANY Gold Coaster or tourist who has visited Brisbane since January 2 must enter a three-day lockdown and stay where they are from 6pm today.
In sweeping new emergency measures announced by the State Government on Friday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced all residents in Greater Brisbane would be forced to isolate at home over the weekend and into Monday, after the city was declared a coronavirus hotspot.
Greater Brisbane, which includes the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands, will go into lockdown from 6pm Friday to 6pm Monday.
As part of the announcement, Ms Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said anyone who had been in Brisbane, but had moved on to elsewhere in the state must stay home for three days from 6pm Friday.
This includes tourists or Gold Coasters who commute from the Glitter Strip to the city for work or have visited Brisbane since last Saturday.
“If you have been in the Greater Brisbane area but are elsewhere in the state, you must stay where you are for three days,” Ms D’Ath said.
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Non-residents currently in Greater Brisbane are strongly encouraged to remain until the end of the restriction period.
The restrictions have been put in place after nine new coronavirus cases were detected in the state overnight, all in hotel quarantine.
It comes as a cleaner, who worked at Brisbane’s inner-city Hotel Grand Chancellor, where four recent coronavirus cases have been detected in quarantine, contracted the UK strain of the virus.
The mutant strain of the virus is 70 per cent more infectious.
chief health officer Jeannette Young said the woman had not gone to any cafes or restaurants during the period she was infectious and said the restrictions were being put in place to locate the woman’s close contacts.
Dr Young said until contract tracers were able to find every contact of the cleaner who had tested positive on Wednesday, Queenslanders could not afford to relax.
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Masks will also need to be worn everywhere in the Greater Brisbane local government areas except if people are at home.
Brisbane residents must stay at home unless they are an essential worker or require health care.
They may also leave home for essential shopping and exercise in their local area.
Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for takeaway service.
Funerals will be restricted to 20 guests and weddings restricted to 10 guests.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the measures follow confirmation late yesterday that a cleaner from a quarantine hotel had tested positive.
“If you are in those areas and if you have planned a vacation for this weekend, I’m sorry but you will not be able to go,” the Premier said.
“You are allowed two visitors to your home if that is required.”
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She said she was ‘going hard and going early’ to stop the spread of this ‘incredibly contagious virus’.
“It is going to be tough on everyone for these three days. What we are seeing in the UK at the moment and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“There are no second chances with this pandemic.
“Three days is better than 30.
“If we are going to stop the spread of this infectious strain, this UK strain, we must act immediately, we must act strongly.”
More to come.
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