March 26, 2021
A 26-year-old man from Stafford has tested positive to COVID-19, sparking new health alerts in Brisbane.
It is not known how the man – who works as a landscaper – contracted the disease, although genomic testing is under way.
His close contacts are now in quarantine.
The man has been infectious in the community since at least last Friday however only developed symptoms on Monday, and then stayed at home.
He tested positive on Thursday at a respiratory clinic in Nundah.
Secondary tests have confirmed the positive result.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said entry restrictions had been reimposed as a precaution from noon on Friday at hospitals, correctional facilities, aged care and disability services in the Brisbane and Moreton council areas.
This will be reviewed on Monday.
The Premier said people should also wear masks in areas where they cannot socially distance, eg. at sporting matches.
“It’s great to see people out and about,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“In the last week I have been to a couple of functions where there have been over 300 people but can I make some observations?
“People are not social distancing. We really need people to social distance.
“And everyone is doing handshakes again.
“Please! We are still in the midst of a pandemic. Now is not the time to break our social distancing, our good hand hygiene and our handshakes.”
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said she learned about the case at 10:00pm on Thursday.
He said the man had been transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, although his symptoms are not severe.
She urged people in the vulnerable cohort to stay at home for the next three days “until we understand exactly what is happening” in connection with this case.
Dr Young urged people to adhere to the requirements that are still in place, ie. indoors one person to every two square metres.
“And please, stay home if you’re sick, as this gentleman did,” she said.
“Any signs of illness at all, stay home and get yourself tested.”
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UPDATE: Genomic testing has linked the latest case to the March 12 incident when a staff member at PA Hospital tested positive after having contact with COVID-19 patients.
Dr Young said it was likely there was one unidentified intermediary who had passed the virus on to Friday’s positive case.
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Contact Tracing
Anyone who has been in the below locations during the relevant times should immediately get tested:
- March 20 – Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre – noon to 2:16pm (see extra note, below)
- March 20 – Market Organics, 190 Enoggera Road (store only), Newmarket – 2:45pm to 3:00pm
- March 20 – Baskins Robbins, 2/489 South Pine Road, Everton Park – 9:20pm to 9:25pm
- March 21 – Genki Mart, 3/24 South Pine Road, Alderley – 10:30am to 10:46am
- March 21 – Mamma’s Italian Restaurant, 69 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe – 12:40pm to 3:10pm (see extra note, below)
- March 22 – Guzman y Gomez (drive-thru), 400 Stafford Road, Stafford – 12.20pm to 12:25pm
- March 22 – Bunnings, 450 Stafford Road, Stafford – 12:40pm to 12.50pm
- March 25 – Aldi, Stafford City Shopping Centre, 400 Stafford Street – 8:30am to 8:45am
- March 25 – Nundah Respiratory Clinic, 1270 Sandgate Road, Nundah – 11:15am to 11:40am
Qld Health said anyone who was in any part of Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre between noon and 2:16pm on Saturday, March 20, should immediately get tested and isolate until they receive their result.
Anyone who visited Mamma’s Italian Restaurant at Redcliffe on March 21 between 12:40pm to 3:10pm must quarantine for 14 days. Public health units will directly contact those people who dined at the restaurant during that time.
Low-Risk Venues
The below low-risk venues are where it has been assessed there is a low risk of exposure to COVID-19. People who attended these venues at the relevant time have been asked to monitor their health and immediately get tested if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms.
- March 20 – Other parts of Westfield Carindale – noon to 2:16pm
- March 21 – Gasworks Plaza, 76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead – 9:50am to 10:20am
- March 22 – KFC (drive-thru), 6 Griffith Street, Everton Park – 7:55pm to 8:00pm
[UPDATED]
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Queensland currently has 69 active cases of COVID-19.
As well as the one case of community transmission (above), there were also six more cases in Queensland announced on Friday.
These acquired the disease overseas and were detected in hotel quarantine.
Up to Friday, more than 53,000 vaccine doses have been administered across Queensland.
Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue or loss of smell and/or taste.
It is important to:
- Stay home if you are sick
- If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested
- Stay 1.5 metres away from other people (two big steps)
- Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser
- Leave a location if it is crowded.
[UPDATED]
