Alert issued for multiple venues inside Brisbane Airport, border bubble busted after Tweed case

Multiple stores inside the Brisbane Airport have been listed as venues of concern after an infection scare.

Health authorities have issued an alert for a number of locations inside the Brisbane Airport after an infected man spent more than four hours at the domestic terminal on Friday.

It was initially hoped the threat to the public would be minimal given the man was destined for quarantine after travelling from NSW but it was revealed on Tuesday afternoon a number of sites were exposed to the infection.

Queensland Health identified gate 25 at the domestic terminal as a close contact exposure risk between 7.30pm and 9.05pm as well as the BNE News store between 6.45pm and 6.55pm along with 8.55pm and 9pm.

Anyone who was at these locations has been ordered to get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of a test result.

Casual contact alerts were also issued for the food court on level two at the Virgin end of the terminal and the toilet adjacent gate 25, with a full list of the venues of concern available here.

Visitors to Brisbane Airport on Friday are urged to check the exposure list. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The man then travelled on to Darwin where his infection was detected in quarantine, while Queensland’s border bubble with NSW was busted a separate case visited the Tweed and Byron regions at the weekend.

NSW confirmed both local government areas would go into a snap seven-day lockdown from 5pm on Friday, after the traveller was in the Northern Rivers regions from Saturday to Monday.

Queensland said as a result, these regions would become part of the “restricted” border zone from 1am on Wednesday.

This means nine of the 17 LGAs currently in the border zone are now restricted and people can only enter Queensland for limited essential purposes.

The community of Lismore was ejected from the Queensland border bubble last week after recording a single case.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland crossed the 60 per cent first dose vaccination target after the Super Pfizer Weekend. Picture: Cody Fox

Lockdown in Lismore is due to expire on Thursday, but more cases have since been detected, putting a return to freedom in doubt.

Bourke Shire, Brewarrina Shire, City of Broken Hill, Glen Innes, Walgett Shire and the Unincorporated Far West in NSW also have restrictions on their movement. NSW had a total 1022 new local cases and 10 deaths overnight.

NSW Health said people in Byron and Tweed must stay at home unless it is for essential reasons, including food shopping, getting vaccinated and exercise.

Tuesday 21 September – coronavirus cases in Queensland:

0 new locally acquired cases.

1 new overseas acquired case - detected in hotel quarantine.#covid19pic.twitter.com/w2N6thl3EM

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 21, 2021

The Premier also used her press conference on Friday to shoot down reports her government was pushing for a 90 per cent full vaccination rate before the state opens its borders.

“That is misinformation that was being peddled today,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Let me clear this misinformation up. #covid19pic.twitter.com/GSj5Ra3RYR

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 21, 2021

“Let me say categorically national cabinet is working on a national plan. We are waiting for further information to come from the Doherty modelling to national cabinet in a fortnight‘s time.”

The state’s peak tourism body said 90 per cent was an unnecessary reopening hurdle for already-struggling businesses, and backed the 80 per cent figure discussed at national cabinet.

Originally published as Alert issued for multiple venues inside Brisbane Airport, border bubble busted after Tweed case