Queenslanders are bracing for more coronavirus cases after four new infections emerged in Brisbane.
Concerned health officials released a series of new exposure sites after state recorded its first mystery case in 50 days on Tuesday.
Two McDonalds restaurants, a Woolworths supermarket, cafe, Domino’s pizza store, childcare centre, and inner-city guesthouse are among the venues exposed to the virus which have plunged hundreds into isolation.
The latest virus scare has sparked restrictions being reinstated in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay local government areas with the mandatory wearing of masks in indoor settings, including workplaces.
It has also cast doubt over Sunday night’s NRL grand final at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane is on high alert after four new cases (pictured Brisbane residents in the CBD on Tuesday
A Brisbane man in his 30s who works in the aviation industry tested positive on Tuesday. He had no recent history of international or domestic travel.
He was infectious in the community for three days and had only been vaccinated a week prior, meaning he was not fully protected.
His wife has also tested positive.
The third case is that of a woman who returned three negative tests during two weeks in hotel quarantine before testing positive five days after her release.
Infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin described the next 24-48 hours as critical and wouldn’t be surprised to see more cases in the coming days.
‘There are high-risk features particularly associated with one of the four cases we had announced yesterday,’ he told the Today show on Wednesday.
Queensland has two clusters with the biggest concern for a truck driver who was infectious in the community for eight days and stayed at two hotels and a inner-city boarding house.
‘We know household contacts are potentially some of the highest risk contacts,’ Dr Griffin said.
An infectious diseases expert wouldn’t be surprised if Brisbane goes back into lockdown (pictured in Brisbane CBD)
‘This person had three addresses during the time they were infectious. While most were in single rooms, I understand there were shared facilities there – that sort of environment means there’s a relatively high-risk associated with that person.’
He wouldn’t be surprised if Brisbane goes into lockdown in desperate effort to avoid a repeat of the horror outbreaks currently experienced in NSW and Victoria.
‘I think this does have the hallmarks of something very significant,’ Dr Griffin said.
‘We know this virus is coming. Whether it’s today, or whether it’s a few weeks or maybe a small number of months.’
‘We know the virus will come in Queensland. I think we’ve been falsely reassured by the success we’ve had so for. There’s been an element of complacency.’
Adalong Guest House in South Brisbane (pictured) at the centre of the new scare is across the road from a school and adjacent to a major hospital
Five of the exposure sites announced on Tuesday were close contact sites, where anyone who was at the venues at the listed times must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
They include Hill Station Restaurant and Cafe and Brands Pharmacy in Spring Hill, Seats ‘R’ Us in Rocklea, Adalong Student Guesthouse and McDonald’s Southbank.
A host of casual contact venues were also announced, where attendees are ordered to test tested and self-isolate until they received a negative result.
They include Domino’s Pizza in Spring Hill, Mother Duck Childcare and Kindergarten in Eatons Hil, Woolworths Southpoint Metro, Freedom Furniture in Aspley and Mater Public Hospital’s emergency department.
McDonald’s drive-thru in Albany Creek was listed as a low-risk venue between 5.05am and 5.10am on September 24. Anyone there at that time should be on alert for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Queensland Police are also on high alert.
‘Obviously one of those was as a result of a truck driver coming into the state and out in the community for considerable period of time,’ Commissioner Katarina Carroll told the Today show.
‘I haven’t had the latest numbers in this morning but our contact tracers will be very, very busy in the next few days.’
The latest outbreak has promoted police to ramp up checks on truck drivers entering the state.
McDonalds Southbank in Brisbane has been listed as a close contact exposure site
The evidence shows that the outbreak has been as a result of truck drivers.
‘We are all supportive of freight moving around the country but when the evidence is there and the risk is there we really need to do something about it.
We have very good relationships with that industry, so we will negotiate what needs to be done ahead of time.
‘But certainly we have seen the dramas across the country. We ask that truck driver, whilst they might want to protest and demonstrate, that we all try to do the right thing here. Because ultimately it’s about everyone’s safety.
The state government has moved to mandate at least one jab for truck drivers entering Queensland after seven truck drivers have entered the state who have been infectious in the community since August 24.
Freight drivers must receive their first jab by by October 15, and two jabs by November 15.
The four cases reported on Tuesday have brought a cloud over the NRL grand final plans, just days before 50,000 people are expected to descend on Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been no discussions with the NRL over a potential plan to move the event.
‘When my phone rings I’ll be updating people, but there is no concern at the moment,’ she said on Tuesday.
Queensland administered 18,482 vaccinations in the reporting period until Tuesday, with 64.1 per cent of the eligible population having received their first dose.
