Queensland escapes Covid spread after positive Uber driver scare

Queensland appears to have once again escaped the threat of a Covid-19 outbreak after an unvaccinated Uber driver tested positive to the dangerous Delta variant.

In some “good news”, the state recorded no new cases of local transmission on Friday as authorities scramble to track the movements of a Covid-19 positive man who was infectious in the community for more than 10 days.

Just 6,330 people presented for testing following the announcement of the state’s first local coronavirus case in more than two weeks.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Monday, October 18, 2021. Source: AAP
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Queensland recorded zero cases of local Covid-19 cases on Friday. Source: AAP

“We haven't had the situations that New South Wales and Victoria have, where tragically we are seeing numbers of people who have lost their life each and every day,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“We haven't had that but now is the time we have got that window of opportunity for Queenslanders to get vaccinated.”

The Gold Coast man in his 30s is on oxygen after testing positive and is so sick that communication with health workers has been almost impossible.

The man hadn't checked in at multiple venues via QR code since September 18.

Overnight on Thursday, Queensland Health updated its list of possible exposure sites to include a Hoyts cinema in Stafford, the Island Beach Resort in Broadbeach and Gilly Barber in Richmond.

Authorities confirmed the man travelled to Queensland from Victoria and an investigation is underway by Queensland Police to work out how he entered the state from a hotspot.

Initial concerns over the man's occupation as an Uber driver were lowered as he hadn't driven for the ride-sharing app since September 19, Uber confirmed on Thursday.

With AAP

More to come.

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