Queensland is continuing to monitor the situation in New South Wales and Victoria regarding their most recent confirmed cases.
Queensland Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Sonya Bennett said she was pleased with the high rates of testing and contact tracing in New South Wales and Victoria.
“Both states have been quick to act in relation to their latest cases and we are continuing to monitor and review the situation daily,” Dr Bennett said.
“The hotel quarantine worker in Victoria has been confirmed as infectious while in the community, and I encourage anyone who has been in Victoria since 5 February to check the list of venues attended by this case and follow the health advice,” she said.
The list of Victoria venues is available here.
Dr Bennett said anyone in Queensland who has been to these venues at the specified time and date should be tested immediately, isolate for 14 days and call 13HEALTH. In addition, anyone who has been in Greater Melbourne since 5 February should come forward and get tested if they experience any symptoms.
Investigations are continuing by NSW Health if a person who tested positive two days after completing their mandatory hotel quarantine period was infectious while in the community.
Anyone who has been in New South Wales since 2 February should check the list of venues attended by the latest case and follow the health advice.
Dr Bennett said anyone in Queensland who has been in New South Wales since 2 February should come forward and get tested if they experience any symptoms.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.
Fragments of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in Pimpama, Coombabah, Merrimac and Loganholme sewage catchments.
Dr Bennett especially encouraged residents of the Gold Coast and neighbouring Logan to be alert for any symptoms and get tested even if they experience only mild symptoms.
“While it’s possible that these detections relate to previous COVID-19 cases who can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious, it is concerning that there have been three detections on the Gold Coast over the same testing period,” Dr Bennett said.
“If there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.
“Getting tested is especially important now more than ever, as we know the new variants emerging overseas are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland,” she said.
For more information about Queensland’s wastewater surveillance program, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/wastewater.
To access a full list of COVID-19 testing locations, with interactive map and post code search, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics.
If your local testing clinic is crowded, consider attending another one.
ENDS
Media contact: 3708 5376