New Gold Coast Covid case not linked to previous case

The Premier has warned residents on the Gold Coast that some restrictions may have to return to the region, and hasn’t ruled out a possible lockdown, following the concerning discovery of a second unlinked Covid-19 case there in 24 hours.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned residents on the Gold Coast that some restrictions may have to return to the region, and there are fears of a potential lockdown following the discovery of a second unlinked Covid-19 case there in 24 hours. It is one of two local cases detected in Queensland today.

Ms Palaszczuk said if there were more cases on the Gold Coast in the next 24 to 48 hours, the government may introduce “some restrictions”.

“We do now have two unlinked cases on the Gold Coast ... we don’t know where these two unlinked cases have come from,” she said.

SEE EXPOSURE SITES LIST BELOW

Acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken said he was “concerned” about the mystery cases on the Gold Coast and authorities were watching “really closely”.

“We do need to watch this really closely ... we’re really concerned,” Dr Aitken said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said she is watching the Gold Coast cases closely. Picture, John Gass

The new Gold Coast case is unlinked and was detected in a fully vaccinated man in his 50s.

The man was potentially infectious in the community for three days while he was actively working as an Uber driver.

It’s believed the case is not related to one at Pacific Pines announced on Wednesday.

That case, revealed on Wednesday, involved a 32-year-old man who had visited a number of locations on the Gold Coast, including Robina Town Centre.

Ms Palaszczuk said she has “concerns” for the city, with the possibility of restrictions returning if the situation worsens.

“We will look at each case and how they all factor in, but I would not like to see multiple unlinked community cases over the next few days.”

She said that a lockdown has been avoided today because the Gold Coast is almost at the 80 per cent vaccination rate but the government would be closely watching the transmission over the coming days.

Asked whether there would be a lockdown on the Gold Coast in the future, the Premier refused to rule it out as a possibility.

“Not at the moment but let’s see how it goes. Let’s see over the next 24 to 48 hours how we go,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Covid-19 press conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Ms Palaszczuk said it was “a good wake-up call” for people living on the Gold Coast

and reminded residents to check in when getting an Uber and going to restaurants.

The second case on Thursday is a teenage girl from Beaudesert who was a close contact from the Moree cluster and tested positive in home quarantine after a few days infectious in the Beaudesert and Warwick community.

A third case was detected in hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk said authorities would trace the passengers who had been in the Uber but health authorities were struggling to trace everybody.

“The other thing is, can I say the Gold Coast residents, you must check in when you’re in an Uber and when you go to a restaurant,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “It is going to make our contact tracing so much easier, so please do the right thing and check in.”

The Premier said she was concerned for the Gold Coast because their vaccination rates were lower than other areas.

“We will look at each case and how they all factor in,” she said.

“But I would not like to see multiple unlink community cases over the next few days.

“So it’s a really important message to Gold Coast residents to please go and get tested.

“Or if you haven’t been vaccinated go and get vaccinated.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Peter Aitken speaks during a press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Peter Aitken said the Uber driver had done “everything right” in being vaccinated and coming forward for testing.

He said authorities would not reintroduce mandatory mask wearing at this point, but he encouraged people on the Gold Coast to wear them on public transport and when they couldn’t socially isolate.

“The other thing I’d ask, is if you do have symptoms, you do come forward and get tested,” he said.

People should also be checking exposure sites, he said.

Education Minister Grace Grace encouraged people to come forward for their vaccinations at a “super weekend” being planned at schools across the state next weekend.

There will be over 50 school vaccination hubs open this weekend to push school age kids to get their vaccination.

More details would be released later, she said.

Queensland is now at 80.1 per cent at first dose meaning the mask mandate is officially over. Queensland has also reached 68.31 per cent fully vaccinated.

The state is on track to reach 70 per cent double dosed next week with the borders set to open.

“I just want to warn people that they won’t see much changes to our road borders just yet,” Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

Mr Gollschewski said anyone who qualified for home quarantine at the 70 per cent double vaccination rate would be able to apply for a border pass.

He said those people already in the system would be contacted about how to apply.

But people shouldn’t expect a change to the physical road borders at 70 per cent, he said.

Ms Palaszczuk pressed the point that vaccinated people had less chance of passing the virus on.

She said only one person had tested positive from Covid in Queensland’s home quarantine trial and compliance had been very high.

Originally published as New Gold Coast Covid case not linked to previous case