Queensland records just one new case of coronavirus as the state exits lockdown and relieved Annastacia Palaszczuk declares ‘everything is under control’
Queensland has recorded just one locally acquired case of Covid-19 as the entire state exits lockdown.
The infection was announced on Sunday morning and is linked to a known cluster at a Portuguese restaurant in Brisbane’s south-west, which later spread to a Greek community centre.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there is another potential case ‘under investigation’, but added that the low numbers are ‘good news’.
‘It appears that everything is under control at this point in time. We are very, very relieved about that,’ she told reporters at a press conference.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said the case under investigation is a close contact of a known infection.
‘There is another person of interest that I am doing further testing on, another close contact from the Greek community centre. So just working through whether or not that is a case,’ Dr Young said.
She also explained that a potential case mentioned in Saturday’s figures turned out to be a false positive.
‘If you remember, I mentioned the worker at the domestic terminal of Brisbane Airport who tested positive on a surveillance test,’ she said.
‘We have gone and done repeat testing, multiple repeat testing on different platforms and it has confirmed that that was a false positive. So that person was not a case.’
Ms Palaszczuk said further details about the possible second infection will be released on Sunday afternoon, and the community will be alerted if there is anything to worry about.
The confirmed infection has been admitted to hospital.
Brisbane and Moreton Bay were released from lockdown at 6pm on Saturday, despite five new cases.
One was linked to the Portugese restaurant cluster – a case Dr Young described as ‘no risk’.
Another man had also visited the restaurant who works at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, which is now a high-exposure site.
A woman in her 50s who works at Prince Charles Hospital tested positive despite having the first dose of AstraZeneca.
People living in south-east Queensland, Townsville and Palm Island still have to wear masks outside and in public spaces where social distancing can’t be maintained.
‘I know that it is a big ask for people in those south-east LGA’s and Townsville to continue wearing their masks and checking in,’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
‘But we do need all stick together for the next 12 days. We still have a long way to go.’
She asked Queenslanders to follow three simple rules; get tested if you’re feeling unwell, wear a mask whenever you’re in public and check in to every venue they visit.
More to come