Man tests positive on Gold Coast

AN UNVACCINATED man on the Gold Coast has tested positive for Covid’s highly contagious Delta strain, breaking Queensland’s 15-day run without a community case.

He is so sick with the virus, authorities are struggling to get information about his movements in the community while infected.

AN UNVACCINATED man on the Gold Coast has tested positive for Covid’s highly contagious Delta strain, breaking Queensland’s 15-day run without a community case, and is so sick with the virus, authorities are struggling to get information about his movements in the community while infected.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the case was among five new cases – four acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine – at her daily Covid update in Mackay, where she is continuing to encourage regional Queenslanders to get vaccinated.

The infected man in his 30s lives alone in a resort complex in Broadbeach and had previously visited Melbourne.

He tested positive in Robina on Wednesday and had been active in the community for about 10 days prior, it’s believed, but there are no exposure sites listed yet as the man hadn’t used his QR check in since September 18.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the man, who worked as an Uber driver, was so sick authorities were struggling to get information about places he had visited.

The man started developing symptoms on October 11 meaning his infectious period goes back to October 9, however it is believed he was in Melbourne then.

He became increasingly unwell and presented to the ER at Robina on Wednesday before testing positive.

He was then transported later that evening to Gold Coast University Hospital.

“He’s so sick he’s having difficulty communicating with us and remembering,” Dr Young said.

“He’s so breathless he can hardly talk to us. “Anyone who has been in the Broadbeach or Gold Coast area since the 11th of October – any symptoms at all, today is the day you need to come out and get tested,”

Dr Young urged people to wear masks, adding compliance on the Gold Coast “had not always been great”. Australia’s supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles will make the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for staff whether they are on the check-outs, in office jobs or distribution centres. German budget retailer Aldi has flagged it is likely to do the same.