Covid Qld: Latest case numbers as government insiders say next 24 hours to determine lockdown situation

Annastacia Palaszczuk has again warned of the very real threat of a lockdown as the state recorded three new Covid-19 cases – one marking the start of a new cluster – as she reveals the “good news” that has so far bought Queenslanders another reprieve.

Three new Covid-19 cases have been recorded overnight – two locally acquired – in “very good news” for the state, but one of those cases marks the beginning of a “new cluster”, and Queenslanders are again being urger to get tested and vaccinated.

The Premier also doubled down on her stance that the NRL Grand Final was not the reason the state wasn’t already in lockdown, saying the chief health officer would have “no qualms” about locking down if it was needed.

One of the new cases is linked with the aviation cluster and spent time on the southern end of the Gold Coast for four days.

Another case was acquired interstate and only in the community for one day.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were almost 20,000 tests on Thursday – giving Queensland an “added layer of protection”.

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

Responding to repeated questions on why the state wasn’t already in lockdown, the Premier said if the health advice is to go into lockdown the state will enter lockdown.

“This is serious,” she said.

“We will go hard, we will go fast if necessary.

“The fundamental reason we’re not in lock down is because we don’t have any seeding or unlinked community transmission,” she said.

If that changed, chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a lockdown, Ms Palaszczuk said.

Dr Young said it was “encouraging news” that there was no unlinked community transmission uncovered by high testing rates in the past day.

Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether people would be able to travel to Queensland at Christmas, saying she didn’t have a crystal ball.

“We will do so when it is safe,” she said.

“If it is unsafe, it will not happen.”

Dr Young was asked whether the NRL grand final would still go ahead.

“We just need to see what happens over the next few days,” she said.

She repeated the restrictions that would be in place for that game, including 75 per cent capacity.

Dr Young said the two new community cases recorded on Friday had both been active in the community.

One is a new cluster, a man who travels between Queensland and New South Wales picking up animals and relocating them.

He was only in the community for one day.

A health worker processes members of the public at a drive-through Covid-19 testing clinic at Murarrie in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“I don’t think he’s a risk,” Dr Young said.

A second person is linked to the aviation cluster – with the man spending time at the offices where there was virus spreading between the 20-24th September and went with family to Kirra Beach Resort for four days and was infectious the entire time.

The man was in Kirra from the 25th to the 29th and was infectious at venues including North Kirra Surf Club, the Kirra Surf Club, Timezone, Kirra Woolworths, and some cafes in the area.

Dr Young urged anyone in the southern Gold Coast region, and indeed statewide, with any symptoms at all to get tested.

Dr Young said exposure sites would be published on Queensland Health’s website today.

She said people who had been in any of the restricted LGA must carry those restrictions over with them as they moved around.

For example, someone leaving Brisbane would still need to abide mask restrictions.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would not hesitate to institute a lockdown if necessary.

“There’s no ifs and buts here people, this is serious,” she said.

“It’s going to depend on whether we see any unlinked community transmission over the next 24-48 hours.”

Ms Palaszczuk said people were continuing to check in, making contract tracers’ jobs easier.

❗️ 24 HOUR FEVER CLINIC, NO REFERRAL NEEDED❗️
Open 24 hours and is continuing to operate without any queues 🙌.
Head on down to:
📍 51 McKechnie Drive, Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains pic.twitter.com/iLOOnYQ2XM

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) September 30, 2021

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said people travelling around the state on holidays should get vaccinated while they are away.

“Get vaccinated on holiday ... because the quicker we get vaccinated, the quicker we can protect our community,” Ms D’Ath said.

She reiterated her calls for people to get vaccinated and said anyone with an appointment for the future should cancel and get the jab immediately.

“Don’t worry, turn up now,” she said.

“Being vaccinated is not enough to stop you passing it on that’s why each and every one of us needs to be vaccinated so we don’t acquire it and get severe illness.”

Ms D’Ath said if you are due for your second dose and have a booking for the coming days, you can attend a walk-in clinic sooner and get your second dose.

“Don’t wait, come out and get vaccinated today,” Ms D’Ath said.

Ms Palaszczuk on Thursday warned the next 24 hours would be “absolutely critical” to halt the worsening outbreak, with one mystery case of Covid-19 carrying the potential to plunge millions of Queenslanders into lockdown.

Southeast Queensland remains on a knife’s edge with a growing number of linked community Covid-19 cases rapidly spreading across the Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay and Townsville regions.

Sources said the major saving grace so far has been that all cases have been able to be traced to their origin within 24 hours.

Covid deep cleaning at the Southport SLSC Nippers building after a 14-year-old tested positive. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Ms D’Ath said if you are due for your second dose and have a booking for the coming days, you can attend a walk-in clinic sooner and get your second dose.

“Don’t wait, come out and get vaccinated today,” Ms D’Ath said.

Meanwhile, the virus has claimed another major Queensland event, with surf life saving’s national pool rescue championships on the Gold Coast cancelled.

The championships were due to be held at the Southport Aquatic Centre in December after being postponed from August, attracting hundreds of lifesavers from across the country.

But Surf Life Saving Australia says continuing uncertainty over border closures has forced the ‘unfortunate decision’ to cancel.

It follows the cancellation of other major events including the Gold Coast Marathon and Gold Coast 600 Supercars race.

SLSA National Sport Manager Wayne Druery said that while it was disappointing to cancel the event for a second year in a row, there was too much uncertainty for a national championship to proceed.

“Unfortunately, we are currently in a position where there is little certainty around border restrictions between states, and there is an inability for many athletes to be able travel for the Australian Pool Rescue Champs that were set to be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland,” Mr Druery said.

“It is difficult to conduct a national championship that doesn’t offer many of our competitors the same opportunity to compete, and it simply is not a national championship if only competitors from one or two states can contest the titles.

“We recognise that with the second consecutive cancellation of the National Pool Championships there are impacts on athletes and we will be working hard next year to re-engage our pool athletes after another unfortunate cancellation.”

The Premier was on Thursday forced to hose down claims she is reluctant to call a snap lockdown ahead of the major sporting event and insisted she would take advice from chief health officer Jeannette Young.

“Let me make it very clear that the health of Queenslanders comes first and as soon as Dr Young says we need to move into lockdown, we will,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

One of the six new cases recorded on Thursday is a 14-year-old girl who is the daughter of a man connected to the aviation cluster, and she was among 52 lifesavers taking part in a school holiday bronze medallion course at Southport Surf Club this week.

Increasing vaccination rates, mask compliance and the lack of mystery cases has delivered cautious optimism to authorities, but Ms Palaszczuk warned there were clear guidelines on what would trigger a lockdown.

There are 65.7 per cent of Queenslanders with a first dose and 46.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

When asked about Friday’s national cabinet meeting, Ms Palaszczuk said she didn’t have updated Doherty modelling and that she could therefore could not make decisions around the future restrictions in Queensland until she saw it.

She said she expected it by the middle of the month.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police intercepted 14,606 cars on the border on Thursday with 169 turned around.

One person was issued with an on the spot fine.

There were 67 masks handed out yesterday – up from six the day before.

Mr Gollschewski said investigations had concluded that a Covid-positive Brisbane woman who crossed into northern NSW and back hadn’t attended an illegal party.

She had attended a pub, he said.

“We have dealt with that with a caution. It is the appropriate response,” he said.

Originally published as Covid Qld: Latest case numbers as government insiders say next 24 hours to determine lockdown situation