Health boss worried about hidden cluster
A sleeping cluster of Covid-19 cases could be lurking in Queensland with authorities on edge over the chance a rapid explosion of new infections could emerge following a worsening outbreak in Greater Sydney.
In the most dire warning of recent times, chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young revealed she was preparing for cases to emerge across Queensland as a result of the spreading outbreak in NSW.
“I am very worried so this is why I’ve asked for people, no matter where they’ve been in
NSW, to go and use that traveller declaration pass.”
Queensland Acting Premier Steven Miles declared the state was actively monitoring the situation in NSW – which was “largely contained to the Greater Sydney area”.
NSW Health on Friday confirmed the caseload attached to the Sydney cluster grew by an additional 22.
Additionally, two cases linked to the Sydney outbreak have been located in Victoria and new exposure sites have been listed for the ACT and regional NSW.
With the virus threatening to spread further across southeast Australia, Dr Young said Queensland Police were implementing random border intercepts and monitoring people entering the state, with 186 people from Sydney who attempted to enter turned away on Thursday.
She also suggested those with travel plans in NSW should consider cancelling and looking for alternative options in the Sunshine State.
“I believe at this stage anyone in Queensland needs to reconsider if they need to travel to NSW,” she said.
Health authorities have expanded the border travel pass to include the Coolangatta and
Tweed Heads border zone, meaning anyone entering Queensland must complete an online form valid for 14 days.
Additionally, anyone in Queensland who has been in the Sydney local government areas of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and the City of Sydney since June 11 must follow the same lockdown rules imposed in NSW. “If you have been to one of the four local government areas, from 1am tomorrow, 26 June, you must stay where you are and only leave for the permitted purposes,” she said.
Dr Young has backdated the hotspot declaration to
June 11, meaning any Queensland residents returning home overnight who have been in the hotspots in the past 14 days will go into hotel quarantine.
It is understood the NSW Origin team is affected by the backdated restrictions, with the NRL restricting player movements and reimposing the team “bubble” in response.
Both new cases in Queensland are linked to the Portuguese Community Centre and in quarantine, with Dr Young unconcerned of the risk.
From Friday more people were permitted in venues and buffets have returned as the state eases restrictions.