Coronavirus: Doctor positive, Brisbane hospital on alert

Brisbane hospital placed in immediate lockdown after a staff member tests positive for COVID-19.

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, has been locked down after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19. Picture: David Clark

A Brisbane hospital has been placed in immediate lockdown after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

The action was taken at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane’s Woolloon­gabba, about 5km from the CBD, after a positive result was received from a senior doctor.

Queensland Health said the doctor had come into contact with several patients who had tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. The doctor did not attend work on Thursday or Friday, but did go out in public on Thursday.

MEDIA RELEASE: COVID-19 case identified at PA Hospital

The Princess Alexandra Hospital has been placed into lockdown effective immediately after a positive #COVID19 case was detected today (12 March 2021).

Read more here: https://t.co/zZolu6CEc4pic.twitter.com/qWk4l3Xeco

— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) March 12, 2021

“Tests indicate low level of the virus, which means the staff member may have only been infectious in the community for around one day on the 11th (of March),” a statement read.

“All patients, staff and families this person interacted with are being identified and appropriate actions are being taken.”

Following the positive test, all staff and patients will be required to wear a mask. Non-essential visitors will not be allowed to enter the hospital.

It understood that non-­urgent outpatient bookings and elective surgery will be postponed.

While the hospital’s emergency department will remain open, those in need of ­urgent care have been advised to visit other hospitals.

All non-essential visits to patients will not be allowed. If you must attend PA Hospital, you will be required to wear a mask. The Emergency Department will remain open, but if you’re able to receive care at a nearby hospital or at a GP, please do so.

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 12, 2021

Queensland Health said contact tracing would continue overnight and the public would be updated early on Saturday with a list of venues and areas the doctor visited on Thursday.

“Due to the early stage of this, Queensland Health is in the process of contact tracing the positive case’s movements,” a statement read. “If there is a risk to the public from the hospital or any other ­location this person has visited, we will issue a public health alert.”

The hospital is actively working to ensure the safety of staff and patients on campus while contact tracing is undertaken.

The positive case was recorded several hours after Queensland Health recorded two new COVID-19 cases among returned travellers.

The new case brings the total number of active cases in the state to 41 and the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 1375.

Since the COVID-19 vaccination rollout began, the state has vaccinated 16,120 people, 2131 of whom received the vaccine on Friday.