Qld records one new local coronavirus case

The brother of a previously reported case has tested positive for the coronavirus as Queensland rushes to control a growing outbreak.

Queensland has recorded one new locally transmitted coronavirus case in the past 24 hours, with police ruling out laying charges against a man who held a gathering while he was supposed to be in quarantine.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Sunday confirmed the latest case was the brother of the 26-year-old man who tested positive earlier in the week.

However, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said he no longer had the virus.

Dr Young said the man was “perfectly well, fully recovered” but that fragments picked up by testing indicated he probably had COVID-19 recently.

“We believe he is probably the person responsible for transmitting the infection to (the first case),” she said.

Health officials have been scrambling to find the source of the latest outbreak, after the 26-year-old and his friend, who also contracted the virus, visited several venues across Brisbane while they were potentially contagious.

The places include bars, breweries and shops, including a large Westfield and an inner city grocery store.

There were fears Brisbane residents could be forced into their second lockdown in three months after reports the friend had hosted a party with up to 25 people after he had been told to isolate.

Officials on Sunday said that was incorrect.

Only five other people were present and Queensland Police said the man would not be charged.

“Police investigators have not found any evidence to warrant action being taken against a man following reports of a house party involving people in quarantine at Strathpine,” Police said in a statement.

Police said they could find no evidence of the occupants breaching health directions.

“I think calling it a party is really inflammatory in some ways, and creates an impression that’s not quite right,” Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

He indicated the majority of people present were housemates.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath defended the government’s release of the incorrect information, saying it was the information officials had at the time.

“It is extremely unfortunate,” she said.

“But this is the information that was received from this gentleman himself, when he was first picked up by health officials. Now whether the health officials misunderstood what he said, (I don’t know), I wasn’t there.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged people to come forward and get tested.

“The next two days are going to be critical for us,” she said on Saturday.

Dr Young encouraged people to start wearing masks but said it was not at the point where it would be mandated.

There were also two new cases in hotel quarantine.

As a result of the outbreak, NSW has begun contacting more than 20,000 people who have entered NSW through Queensland in the last week.

People who have visited any of the hotspots identified by the Queensland government have been ordered to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

NSW Health has said they will contact travellers from Queensland who entered NSW on flights between March 20 and 26.

NSW on Saturday introduced entry declaration forms for anyone who has visited the Brisbane and Moreton Bay council areas since March 11.