Qld records two new local Covid-19 cases

Queensland has avoided a lockdown - for now - after recording another two local coronavirus infections linked to a case on the Gold Coast.

Queensland has again avoided a snap lockdown - for now - despite recording another two new local cases of Covid-19.

The new local cases were children of a Gold Coast case announced on Thursday, and linked to the aviation cluster, with health authorities checking that the children were not out in the community.

The father of the children, who worked at an aviation training facility in Brisbane, was infectious while he travelled to Kirra Beach with his family for four days from September 25. The children were quarantining but may have been infectious in the community for a short time.

Another two cases were recorded in hotel quarantine overnight. There are 25 active cases in the state.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said the new numbers were encouraging, especially as they were linked to an existing case, but she but would not rule out a snap lockdown if needed.

“Look, a day is a long time and Covid but things are looking really positive,” Dr Young said.

“To know that we had five clusters happening, and the reality is that we have not seen any community transmission, beyond the actual workplace and household context is great news.”

Saturday’s update means Brisbane is still on track to host the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, even though the crowd capacity has still been cut by 25 per cent.

Brisbane is still on track to host the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, but the crowd capacity has been cut by 25 per cent. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Richmond Valley local government area is also set to be booted from Queensland’s border bubble after NSW indicated it would be putting the community of Casino into lockdown, following the detection of a Covid case.

The news comes after two new locally acquired Covid-19 cases were reported in Queensland on Friday, with one linked to the aviation instructor. The other was added to the half-a-dozen new cases not connected to an existing outbreak.

Saturday 2 October – coronavirus cases in Queensland:

2 new locally acquired cases - detected in home quarantine, linked to the aviation cluster.

2 new overseas acquired cases - detected in hotel quarantine.#covid19pic.twitter.com/QFyAFgxSJ5

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 2, 2021

New restrictions were introduced on Thursday for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island, with public and private gatherings limited to 30 people, and cafes and restaurants returned to one person per 4sq m inside.

Stadiums have decreased to 75 per cent capacity, and funerals and weddings are restricted to 100 people, with a maximum of 20 dancing at weddings.

Qld chief health officer Jeanette Young has pleaded with residents to get vaccinated. Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images.

The state government says it will not hesitate to impose tougher restrictions if necessary, however it has faith in its testing and vaccination regimen.

Another 22,495 Covid vaccinations were administered in Queensland yesterday.

There were 21,194 tests conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the number of tests since the start of the aviation cluster to 70,000.

Originally published as Qld records two new local Covid-19 cases