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Queensland border remains open to NSW despite local cases
By Lydia Lynch
Queensland’s border with NSW would remain open despite two new locally acquired coronavirus cases in Sydney but Queensland’s health minister has warned people to reconsider travel plans.
Anyone who arrived in Queensland from 1am on Friday who had visited any of the 19 declared COVID-19 exposure sites would immediately have to go into 14 days of hotel quarantine.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the response was “sensible”, with NSW bracing for more local cases in coming days.
Ms D’Ath said anyone who has been in NSW since April 27 should check the list of exposure sites on the Queensland Health website daily as it would be updated regularly.
“Today we believe the restrictions we have put in place are sufficient but we are willing to go further if we need to, as we have before,” she said.
“If you were considering travelling to Greater Sydney over the next few days, you should consider your plans because we do not know what is going to evolve over the next few days.”
A COVID-19 drive through testing clinic in Rose Bay, Sydney, on Thursday was busy.Credit: Photo: Louise Kennerley
The Sydney man, who has no known links to the virus or hotel quarantine, returned a positive result on Wednesday night.
Aged in his 50s, the man had not recently returned from overseas, did not work in quarantine and had no contacts with the hospital system, prompting urgent genomic testing to determine any genetic links to cases in the quarantine system or in other states.
His wife also tested positive and gathering restrictions have been reintroduced for Greater Sydney.
“The second case is not necessarily concerning, because, of course, they’re a close contact,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Of course, with a second case, it means there’s going to be more venues and more contact tracing, so we are concerned.
“When there’s any community transmission in any jurisdiction, we are concerned. We believe that at this stage, the restrictions we’re taking are reasonable and proportionate, but we will be watching very closely what happens with the testing.”
No new local COVID-19 cases were detected in Queensland on Thursday but three returned travellers tested positive in quarantine.