‘No excuse’: Queensland records two new locally acquired Covid cases as authorities plead for vaccine uptake

Queensland has recorded two new locally acquired Covid infections as the state’s top doctor issued an urgent warning to residents.

Queensland’s top doctor has pleaded with residents to rush out and get vaccinated as health authorities juggle yet another new cluster in the community.

Two new locally acquired Covid-19 cases were reported on Friday, with one linked to the aviation instructor announced earlier in the week while the other was added to the half-a-dozen new cases not connected to an existing outbreak.

Despite the escalating threat, chief health officer Jeannette Young resisted the urge to advise a lockdown but urged Queenslanders to get vaccinated on the weekend.

“Please, we have plenty of vaccines,” the top doctor told reporters on Friday morning.

Dr Young pleaded with Queenslanders to get vaccinated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“There is walk-in capacity available, GPs, our pharmacists are doing a fantastic job. Everyone — there is absolutely no excuse.”

The new cluster revealed on Friday emerged in a man who travels between Queensland and NSW to transport animals. He was infectious on the Gold Coast for one day.

“He was on the Gold Coast on the 29 (of September) for a short period,” Dr Young said.

“I don’t think he’s a risk.”

The other new case was linked to the man who works at the aviation training centre but was potentially a greater risk to the community given he was infectious in the community for four days from September 25.

“He went with his family down to the Gold Coast and stayed in Kirra at the iconic Kirra Beach Resort for four day and he was infectious during the four days,” the CHO said.

There were two new local cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“Anyone who has been to the North Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club, the Kirra surf club, to Timezone and local cafes and Woolworths at The Strand — we’ll put out the specific times — but please, anyone who has been to any of the venues or anywhere in that part of the Gold Coast over the last week, if you’ve got any symptoms at all, now is the time to really please come forward and get tested.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk again resisted the urge to order a lockdown despite the escalating threat, insisting the current Covid management was a day-by-day situation.

“It’s encouraging news today that we do not have any unlinked community transmission when we’ve had a high level of testing,” she said.

“(But) I will have no qualms — people know me, they know Dr Young — we will act swiftly and we will go hard and fast.”

On Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk ramped up the health response and slapped new restrictions on Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island local government areas.

Public and private gatherings were limited to 30 people, cafes and restaurants returned to one person per 4sq m inside, stadiums decreased to 75 per cent capacity, and funerals and weddings restricted to 100 people, with a maximum of 20 dancing at weddings.

The new restrictions will mean the NRL grand final to be played in Brisbane on Sunday will have its crowd slashed by 25 per cent.

For a full list of the exposure sites across the state, visit the Queensland Health website here.

Originally published as ‘No excuse’: Queensland records two new locally acquired Covid cases as authorities plead for vaccine uptake