Queensland records three new coronavirus cases after two teenagers snuck in from Melbourne

Queensland recorded three new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, including two linked to a previously identified Sydney cluster.

A couple who returned to the Sunshine State from Sydney and had dined at the coronavirus-stricken Apollo restaurant tested positive to the deadly respiratory infection overnight. 

The couple have been praised for choosing to self isolate at home upon returning to Queensland, limiting their risk of contributing to community transmission.   

On Wednesday, state authorities confirmed they would close Queensland’s borders to greater Sydney from 1am on Saturday.

During the press conference on Thursday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new cases confirmed they made the right decision in closing the borders.

During the press conference on Thursday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new cases confirmed they made the right decision in closing the borders

‘We’ve seen that today, its sensible to close the border to anyone from greater Sydney,’ Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young agreed.

The third case identified on Thursday was a man in his 20s who returned from the United States. 

‘That is the best scenario we could have hoped for,’ Ms Palaszczuk said during a press conference on Thursday morning. 

The three new cases are unrelated to Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu, the two 19-year-old women who reportedly gave false declarations on their border passes to enter Queensland after travelling to Victoria.

The women – as well as a third who has not yet been identified – attended an illegal party in Victoria with up to 30 guests.

They were fined at the time, and Queensland Police have since worked alongside Victoria Police to ensure that no other Queenslanders were in attendance. 

Olivia Winnie Muranga (left) and Diana Lasu, (right) both 19, arrived together in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Thursday revealed 40 people have been caught lying to authorities while crossing the Queensland border.

‘From the beginning of this, we have issued well over 1100 infringement notices and 40 people have made false declarations at our borders,’ she said.

‘I have asked the ones issued recently, in particular to these women, the infringement notices to be renewed and for them to actually go before the court.

‘This is purposefully so to send a message that we will not tolerate this behaviour at our borders.’

She said during the conference that she was ‘very disappointed’ with the behaviour of the three women involved in Wednesday’s cases, and had referred their matters to the courts.

‘They went to extraordinary lengths to be deceitful, deceptive and quite frankly criminal in their behaviour,’ Ms Carroll said.  

One of the women has cooperated with Queensland authorities in contact tracing since she arrived back in the state, and any person who could have been exposed to the disease has been notified.

The second woman is refusing to cooperate or share details of her travels over the course of the last week.   

Between them the teenagers visited 11 different venues in Brisbane while infected with COVID-19

‘I’m very worried about the second individual who has not been cooperative and has not shared where she’s been, so we haven’t been able to contact those venues,’ Dr Young said. 

She could be subject to further charges if she refuses to assist in the investigation. 

A third case was identified on Wednesday and was a relative of one of the two women who travelled interstate.

The test results for the third traveller have not been released yet. 

‘These people have deliberately deceived us, that’s what we’ll allege to the court,’ Queensland’s Deputy Police Commissioner said.

‘They deliberately falsely said where they’ve been.’

Police will be pushing for the women to face court for their actions, and an investigation into what exactly they got up to in Victoria is still underway. 

More to come.  

THE 11 QUEENSLAND LOCATIONS VISITED BY INFECTED TEENAGERS 

The pair took flight VA863 from Melbourne to Sydney and flight VA977 from Sydney to Brisbane, 21 July 

Parklands Christian College, Park Ridge, 22-23 July 2020 9.30am-6pm

Madtongsan IV Restaurant, Sunnybank, 23 July 2020 7-9pm

Heeretea -Bubble Tea Shop, Sunnybank, 23 July 2020 9.25pm

YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care, Springwood, 23-24 July 2020 All

Primary Medical and Dental Practice, Browns Plains, 24 July 2020 3.30-3.50pm 

Thai Peak Restaurant, Springfield, 26 July 2020 6.30-9pm

Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar, Southbank, 27 July 2020 All

P’Nut Street Noodles, Southbank, 27 July 2020 All

African Grocery Shop, Woodridge (Station Rd), 28 July 2020 All

Primary Medical and Dental Practice, Browns Plains, 28 July 2020 12.25-12.30pm 

Chatime Grand Plaza, Browns Plains, 28 July 2020 All 

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