Brisbane records new Covid case linked to hotel cleaner
Queensland Health has confirmed a new Covid case linked to the hotel cleaner who tested positive for the highly infectious UK variant of coronavirus.
In a media statement on Monday evening, Queensland Health confirmed the cleaner’s partner tested positive, though affirmed they had been isolating since January 7 and additional contact tracing is underway.
The cleaner tested positive last week and further testing confirmed she has a variant of Covid which was first reported in the UK.
Queensland Health said further testing for the male partner is underway, though it is “likely” Genome sequencing will confirm he too has the new strain.
“We know this particular variant of COVID-19 is more contagious, so this result is unsurprising,” Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said in a statement regarding the new case.
She said the man had done two Covid tests and was confirmed to be positive with the virus today.
“We are determining the man’s potential infectious period and contact tracing is underway,” Dr Young said.
“We usually do not report any new cases until the next reporting period, however I wanted to stress again the importance of anyone, no matter where they are in the state, to come forward for testing if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 whatsoever.”
The cleaner’s positive case resulted in Brisbane being put into lockdown for three days.
The lockdown is set to end at 6pm on Monday, though Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Greater Brisbane including Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redlands will still be under certain restrictions from 6pm Monday.
Queensland Health said in the statement the new case would not impact Greater Brisbane lifting the lockdown, nor will there be a change to the restrictions which come into force tonight.
In the press release Dr Young urged people to follow health advice - “socially distance, wear a mask when required and get tested if you have symptoms”.
Queensland Health will continue to test close contacts connected to both the man and woman this week.
Meanwhile, there are several locations people need to be aware of, and follow the relevant advice if they have been to the location at the relevant time.
Close contacts – get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days
Those who are considered to be ‘close contacts’ must get tested and immediately isolate and do so until 14 days after they visited the specific venue.
The venues include:
Woolworths Calamvale North, Calamvale, on Sunday January 3, between 11am and 12pm
Coles Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown, Sunnybank Hills, on Tuesday January 5, between 7.30am and 8am
Nextra Sunnybank Hills Newsagent, Sunnybank Hills, on Tuesday January 5 between 8am and 8.15am
Bunnings Warehouse, Arcadia Ridge, Tuesday January. 5, between 2pm to 2.40pm
Sunnybank Cellars, Hellawell Road, Sunnybank Hills, Wednesday January 6, between 2.05pm and 2.15pm
“We are also asking those people to come forward for testing – regardless of whether they have symptoms or not,” Dr Young said in the release, specificially referencing the Woolworths, Coles and news agency.
“Critically, even if a negative test result is received, please continue to monitor for symptoms and get retested if necessary.”
Casual contacts – get tested immediately and quarantine until you get a negative result
Casual contacts must get tested immediately, regardless of symptoms and isolate until they recieve a negative result.
Queensland Health advises passengers on two trains are considered close contacts.
Those trains and the relevant times are:
Train from Altandi station to Roma street in Sunnybank, on Saturday January 2, arriving at 7am
Train from Central Station to Altandi station in Brisbane City, on Saturday January 2, arriving at 4pm
Queensland Health alerts the public to other exposure sites on their contact tracing website, which can be found here.
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