Queensland lockdown fears hinge on ‘non-compliant’ family’s Covid-19 test after Melbourne trip

Fears of a fresh outbreak in Queensland are mounting as an entire school is put into isolation after a family snuck home from a hotspot.

Health authorities are sweating on the Covid-19 status of a Queensland family who finally gave permission to be tested after sneaking into the state from Melbourne.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young previously flagged just one Delta case would be enough to trigger a lockdown and authorities fear the young children, who have signs of illnesses, may have infected classmates on the Gold Coast.

The family’s back roads entry into Queensland and initial refusal to be tested forced an entire school into home quarantine earlier on Thursday.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said two of the children gave the family up when they started telling fellow pupils at the Australian International Islamic College in Carrara about the family of five’s trip to Melbourne.

All students from the Australian International Islamic College at Carrara are in home quarantine after a family of five who returned from Melbourne. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The family are now in hotel quarantine and only agreed to co-operate with authorities on Thursday afternoon.

The result of their Covid-19 tests will be revealed on Friday morning, a spokesperson from the Health Minister’s office told NCA NewsWire.

“We do have a number of concerning incidents that are evolving,” Ms D’Ath told reporters earlier on Thursday.

“We have this family, two adults and three young children under the age of 10, who travelled down to Melbourne and returned, we believe.

“Police have informed us that they have information that they’ve returned around three days ago and two of the children went to school and those children told their classmates that they had recently been in Melbourne.”

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the family of five that had driven from Victoria via NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Deeply concerned, Dr Young painted a chilling picture of a potential massive outbreak if the children or family are infected following positive tests to two truck drivers, including a 46-year-old who was announced as a positive case on Thursday.

The top doctor had previously warned that just one Delta case would be enough to trigger a lockdown and was “desperate” to test the family.

“I’m very concerned about this family who has been in Melbourne,” Dr Young said.

“I’m less concerned about the gentleman, the truck driver who spent less than 24-hours infectious in the community, because it was mainly truck stops and petrol stations.

“And I don’t know what my level of concern for this gentleman is who was here for five days while infections.”

Dr Young is desperate to test the family. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

All schoolchildren are to remain home with one parent but the remaining household members are not required to isolate, she said.

The new case, the 46-year-old truck driver, lives between the Gold Coast and Brisbane and was infectious from August 27, Ms D’Ath told parliament on Thursday.

She said the man was potentially infectious in the Queensland community between Saturday and Wednesday.

“The man is currently in NSW and Queensland Health is seeking to locate this man to commence contact tracing in order to identify any local exposure sites,” she said.

The case was infectious in Queensland from Saturday to Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

On Wednesday, exposure sites emerged at Archerfield and Goondiwindi after another truck driver was infectious in the community for a full day.

This man was assigned as a NSW infection, not a Queensland case.

Authorities have issued close contact alerts for a BP Service Station in Archerfield and the amenities and dining section of a BP Truckstop in Goondiwindi.

Close contact sites:

Bundamba, Puma Service Centre (food court), Cnr Ashburn Rd and Hawkins Cres, Bundamba, Thursday, August 26 1.20pm – 2.25pm.

Archerfield, BP Service Station (indoor areas), corner of Randolph and Boundary road, Archerfield, Thursday August 26, 10am – 10.40am

Goondiwindi, Caltex (truck driver amenities and dining area) Stop 227, Boundary Road, Goondiwindi, 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Casual contact sites:

Bundamba, Puma Service Centre (excluding food court), Cnr Ashburn Rd and Hawkins Cres, Bundamba, Thursday, August 26 1.20pm – 2.25pm.

Archerfield, BP Service Station (outdoors including truck parking area), corner of Randolph and Boundary road, Archerfield, Thursday August 26, 8.50am – 11.10am

Goondiwindi, Caltex Truckstop, Stop 227, Boundary Road, Goondiwindi, 5.30pm – 6.30pm