Multiple capital cities in lockdown as Australia’s Covid-19 crisis worsens
Australia has recorded 35 new local Covid-19 cases so far on Wednesday. The country is bracing for more infections with four capital cities in lockdown.
Australia’s Covid crisis has blown out by another 35 cases with an infectious miner plunging Alice Springs into lockdown and placing South Australia on alert.
Queensland recorded four new cases overnight, which included the brother of a teen hospital worker who had not been vaccinated and spent 10 days in the community while infectious.
Victoria announced one locally acquired infection, a close contact in isolation, breaking a three day run of zero cases.
NSW had the most positive test overnight with 22 new cases although 11 were in isolation while infectious and all cases are linked.
More concerning is the outbreak in SA. A man who tested negative after returning from a mine in the NT, later tested positive to Covid-19, as have several household family members.
It ended a 211-day Covid-free streak for SA.
Tasmania has recorded no new cases.
There were 294 active cases across the nation as of 9pm Tuesday, with 60 patients in hospital with Covid-19, the Department of Health said.
Four states have introduced tough lockdown measures with millions of residents across regional areas and capital cities confined to their homes under strict rules.
States and territories have also rushed to implement border closures as outbreaks worsen to try and stop Covid-19 infections spreading across the country.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Western Australia recorded one new case of Covid-19 on the second day of its lockdown, as contact tracing continues.
Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Wednesday the new case was a 37-year-old man.
“At this point it is to early to say exactly how he acquired the virus,” Mr McGowan said.
“There are two possible scenarios. On Tuesday morning, June 22, he attended the Mobius Health and Performance gym in Joondalup during the same exposure period as a case 1022.
“Additionally, he also attended the same gym on Saturday, June 26 during the same exposure period as case 1023.
“Case 1028 did the right thing and went and got tested and quarantined on Sunday, June 27.”
VICTORIA
Victoria recorded one new local case of Covid-19 on Wednesday.
The Department of Health confirmed the new positive test was a primary close contact in isolation while infectious.
The case is liked the Epping Private Hospital outbreak, which occurred after a nurse contracted Covid-19 while working with coronavirus patients.
She worked two shifts at the Northern Hospital while infectious and then attended a vaccination clinic on June 17.
Victoria Covid-19 testing commander Jeroen Weimar said about 430 Victorians were in isolation due to their connection with known outbreaks across the country.
Overnight, Victoria slammed its border shut to four states after having already closed its border to parts of NSW and the Northern Territory.
Victoria declared areas of Perth, and parts of Queensland as red zones from 1am on Wednesday.
NSW
NSW reported 22 new cases on Wednesday with Premier with Premier Gladys Berejiklian suggesting the current lockdown would not be extended past July 9.
Fifteen of the cases were in isolation for either their full or part of their infectious period.
Ms Berejiklian said Wednesday’s numbers showed the state hadn’t seen the sharp surge in cases authorities were anticipating.
Her plea came as a number of NSW hospital wards were placed in lockdown after a student nurse tested positive for Covid-19.
The 24-year-old is believed to have worked at the rehabilitation wards at Fairfield Hospital and the and a cardiology and a general abdominal surgery ward at the Royal North Shore Hospitals while infectious.
It was not made clear if the student nurse had been vaccinated.
QUEENSLAND
Queensland, which was plunged into a partial lockdown for three days on Tuesday, recorded three new local cases overnight.
One new case was the brother of the infected unvaccinated hospital worker who was confirmed as positive on Tuesday.
Genomic sequencing had traced the unvaccinated worker’s case back to a returning overseas traveller at Prince Charles Hospital where she worked outside the Covid ward.
Another case linked to the Portuguese restaurant cluster was already in isolation and the third was a Virgin Australia crew member, connected to an infected flight attendant.
ACT
The nation’s capital has no active cases but in response to the growing cases interstate people in the ACT are now required to wear a mask in indoor venues like shops, cafes, gyms and on public transport.
The government also closed the border to anyone who had been in the greater Sydney area in the past week.
Thousands of people are also under stay-at-home orders after being linked as close contacts despite the ACT recording no active cases.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
A family of five has tested positive in South Australia, but it will not trigger a lockdown, Premier Steven Marshall says.
A miner, who worked at an NT mine where positive Covid cases emerged earlier this week, had initially tested negative upon his return.
He has since tested positive, as have four of his family members.
Spooked by potential infections from other states, South Australian authorities pre-emptively closed its borders on Tuesday and introduced tougher restrictions, despite not having a local case in 212 days.
Caps are now in place at private gatherings and a pause on communal facilities has been implemented.
Masks also need to be worn in high-risk settings such as aged care centres and hospitals, and are “highly recommended” for commuters using public transport and rideshare vehicles.
The restrictions will be in place for one week.
SA chief health officer Dr Nicola Spurrier said AFL would proceed at Adelaide Oval, but would not commit to spectators being allowed to attend.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The SA infectious miner plunged Alice Springs into a snap three-day lockdown after he visited Alice Springs Airport.
The Newmont Tanami mine worker arrived at the airport on June 25 and remained there from 9am to 3.50pm.
Mr Gunner announced a further two new cases for the territory on Tuesday, after Darwin’s lockdown was extended until Friday.
TASMANIA
Tasmania recorded no cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday.
However, Premier Peter Gutwein snapped the border shut with to Perth metropolitan and Peel regions, high risk NSW areas, and the NT’s Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield.
He mentioned there may be a need soon for Tasmanians to wear masks.
Specific regions in Victoria and Queensland have been flagged as high risk.
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