McDonald’s, Woolworths listed as Covid exposure sites after positive case in Townsville

A McDonald’s and Woolworths more than 1300km away from Brisbane are on high alert as Queensland’s Covid exposure sites grow.

A McDonald’s and a Woolworths have been listed among a growing number of Covid-19 exposure locations after a positive case was confirmed in Queensland’s northeast.

Health authorities confirmed on Thursday that a fully vaccinated pilot flew from Brisbane into Townsville and tested positive there — more than 1300km away from Brisbane or the Gold Coast where the most recent outbreak continues to grow.

Chief health officer Jeanette Young said the positive case was linked to an existing cluster that started at an aviation facility in the state’s capital city.

It is believed he contracted the virus there before travelling to Townsville on September 21 and been infectious in the community for about eight days.

As a result, a number of exposure locations have been listed and include the Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse and McDonald’s businesses in the regional town.

Queensland Health has urged all residents to check the contact tracing website and follow the health advice if they have been to any of those sites.

The Chemist Warehouse in Townsville has been added in a growing list of Covid-19 exposure sites. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Queensland recorded six new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, as authorities contend with four separate clusters.

Exposure sites are now scattered across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and elsewhere in the state’s southeast, as well as in Townsville.

Anyone who has been to the following locations during the identified times is considered a close contact and must seek immediate testing and isolate with their household contacts for 14 days, regardless of the result.

Sunday, September 26:

• McDonald’s Townsville CBD, 210 Ogden St Townsville, 4.10pm – 4.25pm
• C bar Restaurant and Bar, End of Gregory Street, The Strand Townsville 12pm – 1.15pm

Tuesday, September 28:

• Comics Etc., 81 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City, 11.20am – 11.50am
• EB Games, 245 Albert St, Brisbane City, 10.25am – 10.40am

Monday, September 27:

• Liquorland, Westfield North Lakes, North Lakes Drive North Lakes, 11.15am – 11.30am
• Fruit and Deli Co, Westfield North Lakes, North Lakes Drive, North Lakes 10.45am – 11am

Friday, September 24:

• Hotel Bar – Hotel Grand Chancellor, 334 Flinders St Townsville, 7.20pm – 8.30pm
• McDonald’s Townsville Lakes, 147-149 Hugh St Hyde Park, 1.40pm – 1.55pm
• The Courtyard, City Lane, 373-383 Flinders St Townsville, 5.30pm – 7pm
  

Thursday, September 23:

• Magical Rice, Skygate Centre, 1/5 The Cct Brisbane Airport, 12.30pm – 1pm
• McDonald’s Townsville Lakes, 147-149 Hugh St Hyde Park, 12.25pm – 12.45pm
• The TapHouse Townsville, City Lane, 373-383 Flinders St, 4.20pm – 5.25pm
• The Courtyard, City Lane, 373-383 Flinders St, 5.25pm – 8.15pm

A number of other Townsville exposure sites were identified earlier on Thursday.

Anyone who has been to the following locations during the identified times is considered a close contact and must seek immediate testing and isolate with their household contacts for 14 days, regardless of the result.

They must also fill in the online contact tracing form on the Queensland Health website and monitor for symptoms:

• Townsville: Everything Australian at 3/280 Flinders St on Monday, September 27 from 2.10pm to 2.15pm
• Townsville: Gecko Interiors at 280 Flinders St on Monday, September 27 from 2.05pm to 2.10pm
• Townsville: SKIN SKI + SURF in Flinders Mall at 322 Flinders St on Monday, September 27 from 2.15pm to 2.20pm
• Townsville: Chemist Warehouse at 126 Sturt St on Tuesday, September 28 from 5.45pm to 5.55pm

Those who have been to any of the listed sites below is a casual contact and needs to immediately isolate and get tested, needing to quarantine until a negative result is received.

They must also complete the online contact tracing form and monitor for symptoms:

• Townsville: Woolworths at the Townsville City Arcade on Tuesday, September 28 from 4.20pm to 4.35pm
  

The Woolworths at the Townsville City Arcade is an exposure site. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The following locations are considered low risk and those who attended during the allocated times must get tested as soon as possible but do not need to quarantine before their negative result is returned.

They must also continue to monitor for symptoms and be retested if they become symptomatic:

• Townsville: Hotel Grand Chancellor at 334 Flinders St on Monday, September 27 from 12.01am to 11.59pm; Tuesday, September 28 from 12.01am to 11.59pm; and Wednesday, September 29 from 12.01am to 11.59pm

Originally published as McDonald’s, Woolworths listed as Covid exposure sites after positive case in Townsville