Covid Sunshine Coast: Where to get tested, what you can and can’t do in lockdown

From where to get tested to all the lockdown rules and why health officials think the region is ground zero, here’s everything you need to know about Covid on the Sunshine Coast.

Health officials are working to uncover a mystery Covid link after it was revealed the latest Delta cluster could’ve originated on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland recorded nine new cases of the virus on Sunday, which Deputy Premier Steven Miles said was the highest number of community infections reported in the state in almost 12 months.

All nine cases are linked to the Indooroopilly state school cluster in Brisbane which sent parts of the southeast into the “strictest” lockdown we’ve seen since the pandemic began.

The Coast was put on high alert after chief health officer Jeannette Young said she suspects the cluster “likely” jumped from a case that was managed in the region.

Here’s everything you need to know.

WHY SUNSHINE COAST IS AREA OF CONCERN

There are currently five active cases of Covid-19 on the Sunshine Coast.

The first case identified in the latest outbreak was a 17-year-old girl at Indooroopilly State High School in Brisbane, which has now been closed.

There were then six new local Covid cases announced in Queensland on Saturday who were all linked to the Brisbane student.

This included the girl’s family members – both parents and two siblings – as well as a medical student who tutors her and a staff member from Ironside State School, where one of the siblings attends.

Of the nine new cases reported on Sunday, four of them are linked to a karate class held at Ironside State School in Brisbane, one of them is the father of a child who attended the karate class, two are linked to the Indooroopilly school and two are linked to Ironside State School itself.

There are now 18 cases linked to the cluster.

It is known that the 17-year-old student and her tutor both have the exact same strain of the virus as two Australians who returned from overseas, from separate locations via Singapore, and into Brisbane.

The two international arrivals, one from the UK and the other from Indonesia, transited via Singapore before landing in Brisbane on June 29.

Both ultimately tested positive for Covid-19 and were taken to separate hospitals.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles at the COVID-19 press conference at Parliament House. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Young said one of the men was treated at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and discharged on July 17.

How Covid jumped from those travellers into the community remains unknown, but Dr Young said she suspects the outbreak originated on the Sunshine Coast.

“I think it’s most likely that it’s gone from the person who was managed up at Sunshine Coast,” she said.

“All the protocols put in place … were thoroughly followed, but we know with Delta, that it can be more infectious, so we’re just looking whether that has led to the transmission.

“This is why I’m asking that anyone in the Sunshine Coast, who is unwell with any symptoms at all to immediately come forward.”

WHERE TO GET TESTED

Mr Miles said it was vital more Queenslanders came forward to get tested, particularly on the Sunshine Coast, after 11,468 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.

“That is not enough tests,” he said.

He said in previous outbreaks that weren’t as serious as this one, more than twice the number of tests were being conducted.

“It’s particularly important on the Sunshine Coast, where the chief health officer is concerned there may be missing links to clusters,” he said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it was vital we increased testing numbers to beat the spread of the virus.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 regardless of how mild - come forward and get tested.

Now is not the time to hesitate.

— Yvette D'Ath MP (@YvetteDAth) July 31, 2021

“We will monitor our sites again today and if need be, we will look at standing up additional sites and potential drive-though sites depending on where the most demand is,” she said.

Caloundra’s Minor Injury and Illness Clinic will remain open until 8pm Sunday and Ms D’Ath said residents should book their test in advance.

On Sunday:

Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, Caloundra – West Terrace, Caloundra, from 8am-8pm

4Cyte Pathology, Buderim – 54 Lavarack Crescent, Buderim, from 7.30am-5pm

4Cyte Pathology, Maroochydore – 20 Aragorn Street, Maroochydore, from 7.30am-5pm

4Cyte Pathology, Moffat Beach – 13 Buccleugh Street, Moffat Beach, from 8am-2pm

Nambour General Hospital, Nambour – Hospital Road, Nambour, from 8am-4pm

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young is seen during a media conference at Parliament House. Picture: NCA Newswire/Dan Peled

Also available from Monday:

Ochre Health Sippy Downs Respiratory Clinic, Sippy Downs – 9 Ochre Way, Sippy Downs, hours vary

Sullivan Nicolaides, Buderim – Suite 4, 62-64 King Street, Buderim, hours vary

QML, Buderim – Lifepointe Baptist Church, 186 Wises Road, Buderim, hours vary

Sullivan Nicolaides, Mudjimba – Shop 2, 673 David Low Way, Mudjimba, hours vary

Sullivan Nicolaides, Coolum – 21 Birtwill Street, Coolum, hours vary

4Cyte Pathology, Nambour – 77 Coes Creek Road, Nambour, hours vary

Sullivan Nicolaides, Nambour – Level 1, 15 Ann Street, Nambour, hours vary

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO IN LOCKDOWN

The message to residents living in the 11 local government areas currently in lockdown until at least Tuesday is clear: if in doubt, stay home.

The same lockdown rules also apply to anyone who has left one of the 11 LGAs and travelled to other parts of Queensland after 1am on Saturday.

You can only travel within 10km for essential reasons, including to buy essentials such as groceries or medicine. You must wear a mask unless given a medical exemption.

You may also leave home to provide help, care or support to others, to get tested for Covid-19, to get vaccinated or to exercise within the 10km radius. You may take off your mask if doing strenuous exercise.

No visitors are allowed to homes in lockdown areas.

Schools and childcare centres are open, but only to the students whose parents are essential workers.

Masks are now mandatory for everyone at high schools, including students.

Cinemas, gyms and places of worship are closed. Restaurants, cafes and pubs can only open for takeaway orders. Grocery stores are open.

Tough restrictions apply to funerals and weddings, with only 10 people allowed to attend.

WHAT IF I HAVE TO QUARANTINE?

Dr Young clarified the difference between the stay at home order for residents in the 11 LGAs and those asked to be in quarantine due to being potentially exposed to Covid-19.

For those required to be in quarantine if identified as a potential contact, Dr Young said you cannot leave your home except to go get tested.

“Other than that there are very, very limited reasons you can leave your home because you are very high risk,” she said.

If you need groceries or medicine, you’re urged to ring 134 COVID (13 42 68) and someone will bring them to you.

CURRENT EXPOSURE SITES

As of 2pm on Sunday, no exposure sites have been listed for the Sunshine Coast.

However Dr Young said if anyone had any symptoms, regardless of whether they had been at an exposure site, they should get tested.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, because I don’t know where this virus is at the moment. Please come forward,” she said.

“I still think there will be cases there on the Sunshine Coast that we don’t know about and if we don’t find them, they will continue to spread.”

See the full list of sites here.

Originally published as Covid Sunshine Coast: Where to get tested, what you can and can’t do in lockdown