CHO Dr Jeannette Young reveals serious concern as Queensland records three new local cases

Queensland health authorities have issued a blunt warning after dozens of travellers were turned away amid the alarming outbreak in Sydney.

Health authorities in Queensland have delivered a blunt warning for Sydney travellers to stay out after dozens of passengers were forced to turn back on Thursday morning.

The message comes as the Sunshine State revealed three new community cases.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said the escalating outbreak in NSW had left her as concerned “as I’ve ever been”.

Queensland slammed shut its border to Greater Sydney Thursday morning, meaning only Queensland residents can return through mandatory quarantine. Anyone else without an exemption will be sent back.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the strong directive had already failed to be understood in the neighbouring state with 20 passengers on the first flight Thursday morning alone being forced to jump on a returning flight.

“Non-Queensland residents who have been in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour cannot enter Queensland,” he told reporters.

“And so, we'd like to send a message to anyone in Sydney who is thinking of coming up to Queensland — please, don’t.”

Travellers from Sydney have been urged to stay away. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Dr Young echoed the sentiment of NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, who said he was as concerned about the current outbreak in Sydney as he had been throughout the 18 months of managing the Covid-19 crisis.

Dr Young said the infection rate in Sydney was still going up and urged residents from anywhere in the state to stay away.

“I am really, really strongly messaging, as strongly as I’ve ever done, that people should reconsider their need to travel anywhere in New South Wales,” she said.

“I’m as concerned, much like Minister Hazzard, as I’ve ever been. But I’m also confident that we have got really good systems in place.

“I’m so glad that this variant wasn’t the first variant we had to deal with. We’ve had 18 months of experience in dealing with this in our community, although I’m sure that they’re extraordinarily tired of this.”

The message came as Queensland recorded three new locally acquired cases, all linked to the flight attendant who contracted the virus in hotel quarantine.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said she was particularly concerned about the Sydney outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire/John Gass

The manager of the Portuguese Family Centre at Ellen Grove confirmed to NCA NewsWire he tested positive after a woman in her 30s dined at the restaurant on Saturday night before learning she had the virus.

He tested negative on his first test after being identified as a close contact, but began developing symptoms on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital on Wednesday night where further tests revealed he was positive, he told NCA NewsWire.

The man said he had been in home isolation since Sunday, when he was contacted by health authorities. He has not been vaccinated but was “feeling better” on Thursday morning.

Dr Young confirmed two further close contacts had also since tested positive, who had both been “out and about” with the woman in Brisbane on Saturday. They were immediately sent into hotel quarantine that night.

Dr Young said on Thursday she wasn’t concerned that any of the three cases were “a risk to the Queensland community”.

“I’m not concerned with that outbreak in that we now do have everyone in quarantine that we believe was at risk,” she said.

“We have to remember, that was the Alpha variant, so far less infectious than the Delta variant we’re seeing circulating in Sydney.

“We have seen how rapidly in just one week that has taken off in Sydney. We have to be alert.”