Venues added to Maleny high-risk locations as QLD records 0 new cases

Residents of a Queensland coronavirus hot spot have been urged to come forward for testing, despite the state recording no new cases on Sunday.

Queensland recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the second day of Brisbane’s three-day lockdown.

It follows zero cases recorded on Saturday.

Sunday’s zero new cases were the result of more than 19,000 tests, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

But new venues of concern have been added in the town of Maleny, about 100km north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast.

A Victorian woman carrying the highly contagious UK variant of coronavirus travelled there to visit her parents after flying into Queensland on a Jetstar flight, landing at 11pm on January 5.

Queensland’s chief health officer Jeanette Young urged anyone who had visited the following venues in Maleny to get tested for coronavirus immediately:

• Cappriccios Italian Pizza Restaurant between 6.30pm and 7pm on January 6
• Purple Palate Cellars between 4.15pm and 4.25pm on January 7
• Maleny Woolworths between 4.30pm and 4.50pm on January 7
• Jetstar flight JQ570 that arrived in Brisbane at 11pm on January 5.
  

“It is really important that all of those people, anyone who has been there, come forward and get tested,” she said.

“Anyone in the Maleny area with any symptoms at all, please come forward and get tested.”

Queensland has taken up mask use as Brisbane goes into a three-day lockdown, which will end at 6pm on Monday depending on latest case numbers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Brisbane’s lockdown came into effect on Saturday after it was discovered a quarantine hotel cleaner had caught the mutant strain of COVID-19 wreaking havoc in the UK.

The cleaner, a woman in her 20s, came forward for testing as soon as she began showing symptoms.

But she was in the community for five days before she began showing symptoms and realised she could have the virus — sparking fears the highly contagious COVID-19 strain could have escaped into Brisbane.

The lockdown applies to the council regions of Greater Brisbane: Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan.

Under the orders people can only go outdoors for essential work, grocery shopping, medical appointments and to exercise in their local area.

Restaurants and cafes remain open for takeaway only.

Residents also must wear masks outside the home.

Popular public places in Brisbane like South Bank beach were deserted on Saturday as residents obeyed the state’s three-day lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Dr Young on Saturday urged anyone who has visited the following locations visited by the cleaner to get tested:

• Train from Altandi Station to Roma Street at 7am Saturday, January 2
• Train from Central Station to Altandi Station at 4pm Saturday, January 2
• Woolworths at Calamvale Central Shopping Centre between 11am and noon, Sunday January 3
• Coles at Sunnybank Hills between 7.30am and 8am Tuesday, January 5
• Newsagency at Sunnybank Hills, corner of Compton Road, between 8am and 8:15am Tuesday, January 5

The UK strain of the virus is up to 70 per cent more contagious than previous strains, with almost 60,000 cases and 1000 deaths recorded 24 hours in the UK on Saturday.

Brisbane’s lockdown is scheduled to end 6pm on Monday, depending on the latest case numbers.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded zero new local cases on Sunday.