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'Critical for us': New Queensland Covid case has state on alert

Queensland has recorded one new case of Covid-19 in the Brisbane community.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed a man has tested positive for coronavirus and is a close contact of the Brisbane man reported on Friday.

“Once again, that is very good news and like I said, the next two days are going to be critical for us,” she said.

The man has the highly contagious UK variant of the virus and is also linked to the Princess Alexandra Hospital cluster which emerged on March 12.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is pictured.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed one new case of Covid-19. Source: AAP

The premier added authorities have been in touch with 18 close contacts of the man. Ms Palaszczuk said her understanding is the latest case is a friend of the man.

He is said to be a resident of Strathpine in the Moreton Bar Region north of Brisbane. Authorities are now trying to determine how the PA Hospital case passed on the virus to the two men.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said there is a chance tracers might not find the link after authorities looked at about 900 contacts who all returned negative tests.

"There's every chance we won't find it because we know people can get infected and be totally asymptomatic and then pass it on," Dr Young said.

Five more cases were reported in people returning from overseas.

The recently opened redeveloped portion of Westfield Carindale is pictured in Brisbane
Westfield Carindale is one of many venues a man with Covid-19 visited. Source: AAP (file pic)

The premier said there are concerns for anyone who visited Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre last Saturday between midday and 2.16pm.

“If you were there then, we would like you to come forward and get tested," she said.

"We would like to rule out every single possibility here the sooner that everyone does this, the better we will be."

Ms Palaszczuk added people need to continue to practise social distancing and good hygiene.

"If you are sick make sure you stay home and then organise to get tested," she said.

Venues of concern in Queensland

  • Westfield Carindale - March 20, 12pm-2.16pm

  • Market Organics at Newmarket - March 20, 2.45pm-3pm

  • Bakins-Robbins at Everton Park - March 20, 9.20pm-9.25pm

  • Genki Mart at Alderley - Sunday, 10.30am-10.45am

  • Guzman y Gomez drive-thru at Stafford - Monday, 12.20pm-12.25pm

  • Bunnings at Stafford - Monday, 12.40pm-12.50pm

  • Aldi Stafford at Stafford Shopping Centre - Monday, 8.30am-8.45am

  • Nundah Respiratory Clinic - Monday, 11.15am-11.40am

Ms Palaszczuk said at the moment Queensland would not be placed under another lockdown.

"We are very comfortable where things are at the moment, and Queenslanders respond incredibly well, so if everyone keeps up their testing, and the contact tracing, then we are comfortable where we are," she said.

She added she has contacted Prime Minister Scott Morrison to halve the number of overseas arrivals into Queensland over the next fortnight.

"The first reason is you want to be able to concentrate on the contact tracing, and secondly, we are seeing large numbers of positive cases that are coming in," she said.

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