COVID-19 Update: New exposure sites listed

Queensland Health has found the missing link at the centre of the COVID-19 cluster in Brisbane’s north.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says the person has been identified as a nurse working at the PA Hospital, who has not been sick, but was infectious and unwittingly spread the infection to others within a close friendship circle.

“It’s an enormous relief,” Dr Young says of the discovery.

She praised the nurse for her co-operation with health authorities and congratulated others within the cluster on sharing information to enable contact tracing.

“It’s private information that’s been so good of them to share.”

Keep getting tested

Dr Young says the list of exposure sites is expected to grow in coming days and urges anyone who has visited venues on the list to get tested if they feel unwell and follow health directives.

“If you’re unwell or anyone you know is unwell then they should get a test.”

New venues listed

New exposure sites for casual contact include many across the Moreton Bay Region, with Plus Physio at Caboolture, Silky Oakes at Strathpine, Priceline at Albany Creek, Grill’s at Eatons Hill, Basil and Vine at Burpengary and Lawnton Country Markets Bakery among them.

There are many others and the list is being updated regularly.

To view the most up-to-date list, head here

Dr Young says the emergence of two clusters – one related to the PA Hospital nurse and the other to a doctor at the same hospital – triggered the three-day lockdown that ended yesterday.

“The reason we needed that lockdown is because we had two clusters – that’s an enormous amount of risk.

“Queenslanders have done so well, to end up with an outbreak that might need a longer lockdown just was not tenable.”

What you must do

• Masks must be worn in indoor places such as shopping centres, supermarkets and indoor workplaces.
• People visiting cafes, restaurants and hotels will need to be seated.
• Gatherings at home are restricted to 30 people and dancing is not permitted in public venues. 
• Businesses can reopen but must adhere to the one person per 2sqm rule.
  
• Church services can also proceed, following the same social distancing rules and at 100 per cent capacity, with ticketed seating.
• Visitor restrictions are in place for aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, correctional facilities and hospitals.

No community transmission

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says there has been no community transmission overnight and only eight new cases, seven of whom were in hotel quarantine and one historic case.

She praised people for embracing advice to be tested if they were unwell, saying there had been 35,357 tests in the past 24 hours.

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