COVID-19 UPDATE: Two new community cases, no word on lockdown

Published 7:54am 31 March 2021

COVID-19 UPDATE: Two new community cases, no word on lockdown
Words by Kylie Knight

There have been three new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, two are the result of community transmission. But in good news for the region, none of the cases are unlinked to the already identified clusters.

One of these is another nurse from the PA hospital who had received the first dose of the vaccine and had not yet reached full immunity. 

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young says while the results are encouraging, there is still no decision about the length of the lockdown and if greater Brisbane will open up before the Easter break. 

She says it will depend on testing results today, which authorities will look at before making a decision tomorrow morning and making an announcement at 9am.

"This in only one day of encouraging results. We need to get more results from today," Dr Young says.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says there are 71 active cases being treated in hospital, 58 have been acquired overseas.

In the past 24 hours, more than 33,000 people have been tested across Queensland. 

"That's a massive number. It could be the highest. I do want to thank Queenslanders for coming out and doing that," Ms Palaszczuk says.

She and Dr Young are encouraging people to keep coming forward to be tested, if they have been at possible exposure sites or have any symptoms. 

"We need to rule out any unlinked community transmission in the community," Ms Palaszczuk says.

She says if we continue to see high rates of testing and no unlinked cases, there could be good news for Easter and the hotspot declaration could be lifted.

Meanwhile, Queensland Health Minister and State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath is self-isolating after reporting a sore throat and having a COVID-19 test.

"She is following her own advice," Ms Palaszczuk says.

What's happened so far

The number of possible exposure sites continues to grow across South East Queensland and further afield, with the rising number of locally acquired cases.

In the Moreton Bay Region, these include the Redcliffe Peninsula train line, Bunnings at Rothwell and Lawnton, Woolworths at Kippa-Ring, IGA Redcliffe, Liquorland at Dolphins Central shopping centre, Pine Rivers PCYC, Mamma’s Italian Restaurant at Redcliffe, Eatons Hill Hotel, Subway at Strathpine and Strathpine Plaza shopping centre.

There are many others and the list is being updated regularly. To view the most up-to-date list, head here

It follows news of two clusters of the highly infectious UK Variant yesterday - one linked to the PA doctor and the other linked to a nurse who worked at the PA hospital.

The PA hospital is now in lockdown as Queensland Health tests staff who worked in the ward 5D between noon Friday, March 19 and 4pm Sunday, March 28.

Ward 5D is the PA Hospital’s infectious diseases ward.

There are also concerns at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital at South Brisbane after it was discovered a person who has since tested positive, visited a ward while infectious.

People in greater Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich and Redlands council areas are now in lockdown can only leave home for four reasons: food, exercise, essential work and medical.

Everyone must wear masks when indoors, except at home or if they have a medical exemption, or it's unsafe to wear one in their workplace.

Schools are closed, but open to children of essential workers. Childcare centres are also open to essential workers.

Contact tracers are working hard to determine which venues have been affected. The lockdown will give them time to get on top of the number of exposure sites and hopefully reduce the amount of community transmission.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Two new community cases, no word on lockdown

High-risk venues

Anyone who visited the following venues at the times specified must quarantine at home for 14 days.

They must also complete the contact tracing self-assessment if they have not already been contacted by Queensland Health.

And they must stay quarantined even if they get a negative test until the 14 days have passed. It can take 14 days before a patient shows symptoms or tests positive.

The venues are:

DatePlaceSuburbArrival timeDeparture time
Saturday 20 MarchShinobi Ramen Noodle shop
Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre
Carindale12pm2.16pm
Saturday 20 MarchBlack Hops BreweryEast Brisbane12pm2pm
Sunday 21 MarchMamma's Italian Restaurant
69 Redcliffe Parade
Redcliffe12.30pm3.10pm
Saturday 20 MarchGreen Beacon brewing Co.Teneriffe2pm3.12pm
Saturday 20 MarchEatons Hill HotelEatons Hill3.44pm5.30pm
Monday 22 MarchPCYC Pine RiversBray Park7.16am8.10am
Friday 26 MarchFitStop Gym
6/338 Lytton Road New
Morningside6.50am8am
Friday 26 MarchSpinnaker Park Café
222 Alf O’Rourke Drive
Callemondah10.22am11.23am
Friday 26 MarchJamaica Blue Café NewMiddle Ridge10.30am12pm
Friday 26 MarchAuckland House
60 Flinders Parade
Gladstone Central7.23pm9.30pm
Saturday 27 MarchAuckland House
60 Flinders Parade
Gladstone Central7.33am8.20am
Saturday 27 MarchSavour Café
Merthyr Village Shopping Centre New
New Farm10.30am12.10pm
Monday 29 MarchPremium Pilates & Fitness NewCoorparoo9.25am10.30am
COVID-19 UPDATE: Two new community cases, no word on lockdown

Drive-through testing clinic is open

A pop-up drive-through testing clinic is open at South Pine Sports Complex. People are being asked to remain in their vehicles. Medical staff from Sullivan Nicholaides Pathology are coming to car windows to conduct tests.

It will be open until 5pm today and will reopen at 9am tomorrow.

For testing, enter via the main entrance, for sport, enter via the back entrance.

For a list of other testing centres across the region, head here

Support local businesses

As greater Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region settle into the lockdown, hospitality venues offering takeaway are calling for your support.

The industry has been hit particularly hard during previous lockdowns and many will turn to takeaway trade in a bid to serve their customers, employ their staff and keep money coming in.

See the story and list of venues offering takeaway, here

Find more local news here

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