'Insanity': Huge cluster of footy fans captured amid virus outbreak
Shocking footage has captured a large crowd clustered together after an AFL match in Brisbane, amid a coronavirus outbreak in the city.
Some 13,000 people turned out for the AFL match between Brisbane and St Kilda at The Gabba over the weekend, with strict coronavirus protocols put in place by the Queensland government.
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However, the strict social distancing measures that supporters were asked to adhere to went out the window after the match.
Amateur footage captured the scenes as hundreds of fans left the ground at the same time, bunched up en masse as they piled on escalators and out the exits.
It comes after a spike in cases in Queensland linked to a Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, with officials working overtime to contain the impact.
The video of the large crowds piling out of the Gabba sparked outrage for some viewers on social media.
“How’s that AFL COVID safe plan working premier,” one Facebook user said alongside the video.
“We have an outbreak in Brisbane and yet you allow this insanity to continue. Not a single person social distancing.”
A Gabba spokesperson said while the ground had social distancing measures in place inside the stadium, it was up to patrons to do the right thing.
“The venue undertakes a number of operational measures such as socially distanced allocated seating and regularly sanitised surfaces and also actively encourages patrons to social distance, as is the direction to all Queenslanders under current guidelines,” she said.
“While most visitors to The Gabba do the right thing, we would like to remind patrons how vital their co-operation is in ensuring these types of events are able to proceed in the future.
“As with circumstances outside the stadium, individuals are encouraged to socially distance and to remove themselves from any situations that may encourage close contact with other patrons (for example, wait a few minutes until the crowd has dissipated before leaving a venue).”
Crowd concerns come amid virus outbreak
Two new cases confirmed in the Sunshine State were linked to a detention centre cluster, which has a total of 10 infections - five staff and five of their family members.
A 77-year-old Ipswich worker had experienced mild symptoms and continued to work while infectious.
Two of the new cases included a woman in her 30s and a baby boy from the West Moreton region. Queensland Health confirmed the baby has not been in childcare or family day care.
This prompted health authorities to publish an alert for locations centred mainly around the area of Logan, south of Brisbane.
“If you’re in a crowded situation that you can’t get out of, put a mask on,” Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
“I’m not going to mandate it because I don’t believe we have broad-spread community transmission but certainly we’re in a risky period.”
