Shock new coronavirus case in Queensland brings in raft of emergency restrictions – after 26-year-old infectious man went out for a WEEK putting a shopping centre and a Bunnings on alert
- 26-year-old man has tested positive in Queensland outside of hotel quarantine
- Infectious for a week – visiting venues including a Bunnings and a food market
- The case has prompted closure of hospitals and aged care facilities to visitors
A new case of coronavirus has been found in Queensland, outside of hotel quarantine.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a 26-year-old man from Stafford in north Brisbane tested positive to Covid-19 and had been infectious in the community since last Friday.
During that time, he visited venues across Brisbane including a Bunnings in his suburb, a fresh food market in inner-city Newstead and Carindale shopping centre in the south-east.
The case has prompted Ms Palaszczuk to close aged care facilities, hospitals and prisons to visitors in the Brisbane City and Moreton Bay council areas from 12pm on Friday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has closed aged care centres, hospitals and prisons to visitors in Brisbane following a case of coronavirus outside hotel quarantine
Ms Palaszczuk said the 26-year-old returned a positive result after being tested for the virus on Thursday.
‘We will be issuing health alerts throughout the day and I urge the media to really put out these venues,’ she said.
‘We absolutely want people, especially over the next two – three days, to come forward and get tested if you are feeling unwell and you have symptoms.’
The state’s health authorities have also issued an urgent alert for 96 suburbs across Brisbane after coronavirus fragments were detected in sewage water.
Covid-19 traces were found in the Luggage Point treatment plant in the city’s east.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has urged anyone experiencing symptoms of the virus – however mild – to come forward for a test.
‘It is very important people with symptoms come forward right away and get tested – we can’t be complacent, we’re still in this pandemic,’ she said.
‘It is critical we detect any cases that we may not be aware of as quickly as possible through our testing system, to contain any potential spread.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a 26-year-old man had tested positive to Covid-19
‘We are concerned by the new variants that are emerging overseas that are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland.
‘It’s also possible that this detection relates to previous COVID-19 cases that can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious.’
More to follow