Queensland records an extra case of locally-transmitted Covid-19

Just hours after the Premier announced lockdown would end in parts of Queensland, the state recorded another locally-transmitted covid case.

Queensland confirmed another case of locally-transmitted Covid-19 on Friday, just hours after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a 72-hour lockdown would end in parts of the state.

The new infection is in addition to the three other cases of community transmission announced earlier, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath sharing the news on Twitter Friday afternoon.

“The man in his 50s returned a positive result today, after becoming symptomatic on 30 June 2021 and undertaking a test on 1 July 2021,” Ms D’Ath wrote.

“Anyone in the Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Sippy Downs or Maroochydore areas are asked to come forward even if they have only the slightest symptoms.

“The man was only in the community while potentially infectious for two days before the lockdown began, at his workplace, and briefly during lockdown.”

RELATED: PM reveals plan out of the pandemic

🚨 PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – SUNSHINE COAST 🚨

A public health alert is being issued for parts of the Sunshine Coast, after a new community case has been identified today. pic.twitter.com/lrYXcON1ud

— Yvette D'Ath MP (@YvetteDAth) July 2, 2021

The man works at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Sippy Downs campus, and was at work on June 28 and 29, the Health Minister added.

“He had minimal contact with others so it will not be listed as a contact tracing site, but as always, anyone with symptoms, come forward for testing immediately,” she wrote.

“In addition, we’re asking anyone who was at Coles at Sippy Downs from 8:15am to 8:35am to get tested, but you do not need to isolate until you receive a result as this venue is classed as low risk.”

The Health Minister did not clarify which date she was referring to in regards to the Coles supermarket.

Chief health officer Jeanette Young said the new infection would be counted in tomorrow’s case numbers, adding the case would not impact decisions to end lockdown everywhere except for the Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay regions at 6pm tonight.

“I am confident we can continue with the eased lockdown for the Sunshine Coast this afternoon, and we’ll continue to monitor the situation,” Dr Young said.

“Contact tracing is already underway and we are contacting everyone that we can identify.”

The Premier announced earlier Friday that stay-at-home orders would end for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, Townsville and Palm Island as intended.

“There will be restrictions that continue to apply – those restrictions will be in place for the next two weeks,” Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

“That means everyone will have to carry a mask on them and wear that mask whenever they’re outside of their home, but not when you are driving your vehicle, but obviously that means going to shopping centres, hospitals, aged care facilities, churches, everywhere else.”

As for Brisbane and Moreton Bay, lockdown will be extended for at least another 24 hours, after a mother and daughter from Carindale contracted the virus from an unknown source.

“They have been out quite extensively around Brisbane,” she said.

“We really need our contact tracers, this is the advice of Dr Young, to really get on top of this issue quickly. We will get more information during the day but it is absolutely vital that we get on top of this today, everyone. I am just asking for that extra 24 hours.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the lockdown extension would be reassessed tomorrow morning.

RELATED: Premier calls an end to WA lockdown

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced stay-at-home orders would be extended an additional 24 hours in Brisbane and Moreton Bay. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Dr Young said she was “grateful that people will remain in lockdown” in those two local government areas.

“Please don’t leave Brisbane or Moreton Bay to go anywhere else,” she said. “I don’t want to spread this virus beyond where it currently is.”

Asked what would cause the lockdown to be further extended past tomorrow, Dr Young said it was “too early” to say.

“We have extended it today because of these totally unknown cases but let’s just get through today,” she said.

“It’s too hypothetical. I’m sorry. It is a very sensible question, I would hope that it doesn’t need to be extended.”

– with Frank Chung