Qld coronavirus: Latest update on state’s COVID-19 status
The first case linked to a coronavirus cluster in Brisbane’s south contracted the same strain of COVID-19 as that of a young woman who returned to Queensland from Melbourne, it has been revealed, as authorities fear a missing case that connects the two.
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The first case linked to a coronavirus cluster in Brisbane’s south contracted the same strain of COVID-19 as a young woman who returned to Queensland from Melbourne, authorities have revealed.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says there may have been a case of COVID-19 that was missed, that linked the two together.
There have been no new cases of the virus in Queensland in the past 24 hours.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles confirmed that early genomic results had revealed the first case from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre had contracted the same strain of COVID-19 as one of the three women who travelled to Melbourne in July when the city was in hard lockdown and allegedly lied about their travel when they returned to Queensland.
Two tested positive to coronavirus.
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It was also the same strain that was then passed on to a diner at a Sunnybank restaurant.
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Dr Young said it was a “little bit” too early to be seeing community transmission from the new cluster, but that she was beginning to think there was a case of COVID-19 that had been missed.
“It looks like this cluster has the same viral strain as one of the young women who went down to Melbourne,” she said.
“... that doesn’t prove it, I need more information which is being done over the next 24 to 48 hours to be able to prove it.
“But at this stage it does look like they could be linked.
“But we don’t have the case between the two clusters.
“So we’ve had the cluster related to that Melbourne-Logan group, those five people and the cluster related to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, 10 people.
“There’s a missing link between the two, so that’s why it’s so important that we do our absolute best to find every single case because the cases we don’t find are the ones that can lead to chains of transmission.”
Dr Young said there were still staff members at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre that had not been tested.
She reaffirmed that people should consider wearing a mask if they could not social distance.
“I think it’s up to people to make up their own decision at this stage,” Dr Young said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acknowledged the long queues to get tested yesterday and thanked everyone for their patience. Extra clinics are expected to be established today to reduce the huge lines experienced yesterday.
The current testing turnaround is 30 hours for results.
Ms Palaszczuk urged people attending the Jeff Horn, Tim Tszyu fight in Townsville to take care.
In fact, health staff will meet each flight arriving in the northern city ahead of tomorrow’s fight.
One new case was revealed yesterday, a relative of worker at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, which is at the centre of a cluster in Brisbane’s southern suburbs.
Five workers from the centre, and five family members have tested positive.
There are 18 active cases in Queensland.
Revelations of the new case came with pleas from Ms Palaszczuk, chief health officer Jeannette Young and Health Minister Steven Miles for more people to be tested for coronavirus, even if they presented only the mildest symptoms.
As contract tracing continues, public health alerts have been issued for dozens of locations across Greater Brisbane and Ipswich.
Suburbs affected include Mt Gravatt East, Springfield, Carindale, Camp Hill, Marsden, Forest Lake, Browns Plains, Greenbank, Mt Gravatt, Carina Heights, Slacks Creek, Indooroopilly, Greenslopes, Crestmead, Brassall, Birkdale, Bundamba and Wacol.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that 3000 cars have been intercepted at the road border in the past 24 hours, including dozens of people who have been turned around.
Two on-the-spot fines have also been issued in the past 24 hours by police for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
Originally published as Qld coronavirus: Latest update on state’s COVID-19 status