Queenslanders have turned out in swathes for COVID-19 tests as the state government resists a lockdown with cases spreading from the southeast to the far north.
Since Monday, the state has recorded 10 new cases that have been active and infectious in the community across six Local Government Areas.Â
Stage two restrictions are now in place in LGAs across Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Townsville and Palm Island, with residents required to mask up when leaving home and caps on numbers a weddings, funerals and hospitality.
Four of Thursday’s new local cases are colleagues of a Brisbane aviation worker who tested positive earlier this week, and one of those four flew to Townsville and stayed there.
The aviation cluster all attended a meeting together on September 20 and have been infectious since September 21.
The man who flew to Townsville frequented a number of venues in the CBD with 27 exposure sites listed, 12 of which are close contact.
There are now 80 exposure sites in Brisbane, including 20 close contacts sites, in the CBD, Albany Creek, Aspley, Camp Hill, Cannon Hill, Carindale, Eatons Hill, Hamilton, Rocklea, Spring Hill and South Brisbane.
Nine new COVID-19 exposure sites have been added in North Lakes, Kippa Ring and Hyland Park. Only two are considered close: a fruit shop and a bottle-o in North Lakes.
A further eight exposure venues, including one close contact site, have been listed in the Gold Coast suburbs of Miami, Mermaid Waters, Merrimac, Nerang and Surfers Paradise.
The fifth case is the daughter of a known case in the aviation cluster and the sixth is a Camp Hill woman who visited the NSW town of Kyogle, where four cases have emerged this week.
Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) has also been rocked by the outbreak after a participant at Southport Surf Life Saving Club’s Bronze Medallion course tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
In a statement, SLSQ said the course started on Monday and was immediately cancelled upon hearing of the positive result.
“All 52 attendees have been advised to get tested as soon as possible and received a directive to home quarantine,” they said.
Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young says it’s imperative Queenslanders wear a mask and keep up to date with the growing list of exposure sites.
“It’s critical that people wear their masks the entire time when they’re in those larger venues, whether they’re cinemas, or theatres or sporting events. Keep your mask on unless you’re seated, and eating or drinking,” she said.
“We know masks work. We know they’re very effective.
“If people have been in any of those LGAs since the 21st, please go online and check for all those exposure venues.”
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
