Covid Qld: Three new locally acquired cases, including one active in community for 10 days

The Premier has faced a hostile reception at a Queensland community as she was forced to move her daily press conference from a park to indoors. It comes as she tells unvaccinated Queenslanders today’s three new locally acquired Covid-19 cases are a wake-up call.

Queensland has recorded three new locally acquired Covid-19 cases as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned Queenslanders to expect more sudden outbreaks of this nature as restrictions begin to ease, saying it is a “wake-up call” to those who are not vaccinated.

The first case was detected in a man from Pacific Pines on the Gold Coast who has received one dose of the vaccine and was infectious in the community for six days.

Authorities do not know where the 32-year-old Gold Coast case was acquired from and urged anyone on the Gold Coast with symptoms to get tested.

The man has three very close contacts – one of which has been working in a healthcare facility – who have all tested negative.

The second case was detected in an unvaccinated First Nations man in his early 20s in Warwick who attended an event at Moree over the border and was infectious in the community for up to 10 days.

“We need to make sure that the residents of Warwick are also getting vaccinated and tested,” the Premier said.

“They’ve been potentially infectious in the community for 10 days.”

The third case was detected in hotel quarantine in a fully-vaccinated traveller from Melbourne but there is no community risk.

The Premier provided the case details during her visit to the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg as she continues the push to increase vaccination rates in the regions, but was met with hostility, forcing the daily press conference to be moved from a park to indoors at the town’s TAFE.

It comes as the vaccine mandate will be extended to the workforce at all health facilities in Queensland including private hospitals, pharmacies, GPs and physiotherapists from December 17.

Along with mandating the jab for all private healthcare staff across Queensland, the health direction will also extend to contractors, third party providers, health professionals and employees or volunteers who are engaged by external agencies.

“Under this Direction, everyone working in healthcare must be vaccinated by 15 December, including private health workers,” Ms D’Ath said.

“It’s critical that all health workers, including students and volunteers, are protected.

“They face a high infection risk, especially clinicians on the frontline.”

The direction will apply to various healthcare settings like day surgeries, GP clinics, pharmacies, optometrists, private nurse offices, allied health clinics, dental surgeries, and private pathology centres

Meanwhile, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath gave an update to home quarantine in Queensland that will mean thousands of people who have been in hotspots can come into Queensland from November 19.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

From November 19 – once Queensland hits 70 per cent doubled dosed – people will be able to fly in from Covid hotspots and home quarantine provided they meet set criteria.

“This will give people certainty to book flights,” Ms D’Ath said.

The update came with the warning that the virus is coming into Queensland and will continue to do so once the border reopens, with the three news cases providing a “wake-up call, Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk also warned businesses wouldn’t have a choice but to only open to fully vaccinated patrons come December 17.

Asked whether the unvaccinated would have more freedom once the state hits 90 per cent - which is expected early next year - Ms Palaszczuk said not necessarily.

“Australia has the chance and Queensland has the chance, you know, to be ... (one of the) most highly vaccinated places in the world,” she said.

The Premier said businesses would need to abide by the public health mandate that will stop unvaccinated people from accessing venues and events like pubs, clubs and music festivals.

Asked about comments made by Brisbane coffee king Phillip Di Bella, who plans to defy the government’s mandate, the Premier said her job was to protect Queenslanders.

Regarding the update to quarantine, Ms D’Ath said the criteria for home quarantining when the state hits 70 per cent double dose means people will be able to fly in and home quarantine from November 19.

Ms D’Ath said this was another push for people to get vaccinated as the home quarantine system comes with a risk.

“This means thousands of people will be able to fly in and home quarantine who have been in hotspots,” she said.

The criteria is:

– They are fully vaccinated and it has been at least two weeks since their last dose

– They have a negative PCR test at least 72 hours prior

– They have a residence they can quarantine at which has direct fresh air access from the front door (ie: a house, townhouse)

– They can fly direct from the hotspot (Vic, NSW, ACT), to the port of call and is then within a two-hour drive from landing. They can transit via Brisbane airport if there is no direct flights

Ms D’Ath also said the vaccine mandate will be extended to the workforce at all health facilities in Queensland including private hospitals, pharmacies, GPs and physiotherapists.

All workers in these healthcare industries will need to be vaccinated.

Cherbourg Shire has the lowest vaccination rates in Queensland according to federal government data but the rates are much higher according to the council, as they are counting people by postcode and not by Medicare registration.

A small group of locals, including 63-year-old Irene Landers, gathered outside the police station — where the Premier had held a private meeting with community leaders — voicing their concerns about the vaccine and the roll out.

More than 72.7 per cent of Cherbourg residents and neighbouring communities have received their first dose.

Asked why unvaccinated people wouldn’t be barred from entering vulnerable communities like Cherbourg, the Premier said because “we are one state”.

“I have always tried to unite Queenslanders,” she said.

But she repeated restrictions may be imposed in the event of an outbreak.

Cherbourg Hospital. Picture: Facebook/Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council.

Cherbourg Mayor Elvie Sandow said since people had been going door to door in a bid to boost jab rates, it had improved.

“Our first jab is up 70 per cent,” she said.

“I think by the time Mater leaves here, we’ll have 80 to 90 per cent.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland’s domestic border was reopening on December 17 regardless of whether some areas didn’t hit 80 per cent fully vaccinated.

“There will be people coming into your communities,” she said.

News of the new case comes on the day the state is expected to reach the 80 per cent first-dose milestone, which triggers the end of the mask mandate, on Thursday.

When that threshold is reached, the clock will tick down to the day Queenslanders reach 80 per cent double-dosed – expected to be December 17 – where a range of restrictions will be lifted for those who are vaccinated but remain in place for the unvaccinated.

The new restrictions have already been met with widespread support, but also backlash, with some business owners, such as coffee king Phillip Di Bella, vowing to defy mandate, running the risk of fines or possible closure.

“Millions of Queenslanders have gone and got vaccinated,” the Premier said.

“This (new restrictions) is a reward … who have done the right thing.”

Ms Palaszczuk on Wednesday said the rules restricting the unvaccinated may “not necessarily” be lifted when the state hits 90 per cent.

She also said businesses had no choice but to abide by the new rules, which would be written into a public health order.

It comes as more than 13,100 vaccines were administered by Queensland Health on Tuesday.

Originally published as Covid Qld: Three new locally acquired cases, including one active in community for 10 days