COVID-19 UPDATE: Four new community cases

Update 10.30am: Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath have provided more detail on the four new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 from Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

One case is being investigated and is a returned traveller who had been in hotel quarantine for 14 days and has since tested positive. It is unclear if their positive result is due to “late shedding of the virus”.

Another is an Eatons Hill man in his 30s who worked at an aviation training facility and is likely to have come into contact with international pilots. The origins of his infection are being investigated. He was active in the community from September 23 but is now in hospital.

His wife has since tested positive but a third member of the household is so far testing negative.

The fourth case is a truck driver who has been infectious in the community since September 19. He has stayed at two hotels and a boarding house in South Brisbane. Authorities are working with the venues to organise quarantine for those who have been exposed and to identify other exposure sites.

Ms D’Ath says anyone who has been in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region local government areas since September 19 will now need to wear masks indoors and outdoors unless they can socially distance.

They will also not be permitted to visit aged care, hospitals, disability accommodation and detention centres for the next two weeks.

She and Dr Young are urging Queenslanders to get tested if they have any symptoms, wear masks and continue to check in when visiting venues.

Anyone over the age of 12 years, who has not been vaccinated, should do so today with some immunity provided even from the first dose.

The vaccination hub at Boondall’s Brisbane Entertainment Centre is accepting walk-ins from today.

“We know that the virus is on our doorstep. Don’t wait to get vaccinated,” Ms D’Ath says.

“If we do this (get tested, wear masks, get vaccinated and check in), we’ll get through this again without having to go to further restrictions.”

Dr Young says she cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated now.

“If you haven’t, get vaccinated today. This is the day,” she says.

“We don’t know where our next case is going to come from. It could come at any time.”

There are plenty of options, with three vaccines being provided at community hubs, pharmacies and via GPs.

"There will be somewhere that can vaccinate you today, so please do that," Dr Young says.

Dr Young says she has a "reasonable level of concern" but is comforted by the way Queenslanders have handled previous outbreaks. She will be keeping a close eye on developments in the next 24-48 hours.

"At this stage, I don't think a lockdown is warranted, but that could change," she says.

Today's update also included the news a man in his 50s has died in hotel quarantine. The incident is being investigated and will be referred to the coroner. No further details were provided.

Earlier today (9.45am): There have been four new cases of COVID-19 detected in the community in the past 24 hours, plus two cases detected in hotel quarantine.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has provided a briefing from Caloundra this morning, and the Chief Health Officer and Health Minister will provide more details at 10.30am.

One case is a fully vaccinated man who works in at an aviation training facility and lives at Eatons Hill. He was infectious in the community for three days.

The second case is his wife.

The third case is a truck driver living in shared accommodation, who has been infectious in the community for about one week. Police are working with him to identify exposure sites.

The fourth case is a person who had completed 14 days hotel quarantine and tested positive after leaving hotel quarantine.

It comes as more than 9000 people were tested and 18,482 people were vaccinated across Queensland.

Ms Palaszczuk is urging people not to panic because most have been doing the right thing. There will be tightening of some restrictions from today, with more details at 10.30am.

Those in the Moreton Bay Region and Brisbane areas will need to wear masks indoors and people who have been in Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region since September 19 will not be permitted to visit aged care, hospitals, disability accommodation and detention centres.

“We’ve been here before. I know South East Queensland will rise to the challenge once again,” she says.

Ms Palaszczuk is reminding Queenslanders the best line of defence is masks and anyone with symptoms needs to come forward for testing.

New restrictions will be placed on truck drivers, with seven having been infectious in the Queensland community since August 24.

From October 15, it will be mandatory for them to have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and by November 15 they have to have had their second dose or have an appointment for one.

Roadside vaccination will be available for them at Tugun’s John Flynn Hospital, via Boyd St, from today.

Possible exposure sites

Exposure date	Place	Suburb	Exposure times	Category
Friday 17 September 2021	Qantas flight QF516 Sydney to Brisbane	Sydney to Brisbane	10.06am - 11.12am	Close contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	11.25am - 12.57pm	Low risk contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Jetstar flight JQ484 Newcastle to Brisbane	Newcastle to Brisbane	3.54pm - 4.45pm	Close contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	4.57pm - 9.30pm	Low risk contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Toilet next to Gate 25, opposite BNE News Shop, Level 2 Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	5pm - 5.10pm	Casual contact
Friday 17 September 2021	South Food court, Level 2 (Virgin end of terminal) Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	5.10pm - 6.10pm	Casual contact
Friday 17 September 2021	BNE News Shop, Level 2, between gate 25 and 36 (next to Krispy Kreme) Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	6.45pm - 6.55pm	Close contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Toilet adjacent to Gate 25 seating area Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	7.30pm - 9.05pm	Casual contact
Friday 17 September 2021	Gate 25 Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	7.30pm - 9.05pm	Close contact
Friday 17 September 2021	BNE News Shop, Level 2, between gate 25 and 36 (next to Krispy Kreme) Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal, Airport Drive	Brisbane Airport	8.55pm - 9pm	Close contact
Thursday 23 September 2021	Mother Duck Childcare & Kindergarten Eatons Hill 6-12 Bunya Park Dr	Eatons Hill, Queensland 4037	7.25am - 8am	Casual contact
Friday 24 September 2021	McDonalds Albany Creek Drive Thru 768 Albany Creek Rd	Albany Creek	5.05am - 5.10am	Low risk contact
Friday 24 September 2021	Seats 'R' Us 1/1620 Ipswich Rd	Rocklea, QLD 4106	11.15am - 11.45am	Close contact
Friday 24 September 2021	Freedom Furniture Aspley 815 Zillmere Rd	Brisbane	4.40pm - 5pm	Casual contact