Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update

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20 April 2020

Queensland has no new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) today.

The current state total remains at 1,019.

HHS*Active casesRecovered casesDeathsTotal confirmed
cases to date
Cairns and Hinterland 5 28 0 33
Central Queensland 2 6 0 8
Central West 0 0 0 0
Darling Downs 15 25 2 42
Gold Coast 52 137 0 189
Mackay 4 11 0 15
Metro North 77 235 3 315
Metro South 76 167 0 243
North West 0 0 0 0
South West 0 0 0 0
Sunshine Coast 13 75 1 89
Torres and Cape 0 0 0 0
Townsville 5 19 0 24
West Moreton 11 26 0 37
Wide Bay 15 9 0 24
Overseas 0 0 0 0
Total27573861019**

* HHS level case data may include a patient’s residential address, Public Health Unit managing or location where test was ordered.

** Changes may occur in the number of notifications reported from day to day. This is due to ongoing maintenance and update of notification details as new information becomes available, or where discrepancies are detected through data quality assurance activities.

Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young thanked Queenslanders for playing their part in reducing the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“I would like to thank Queenslanders for their role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and social distancing,” Dr Young said.

“It’s excellent news that we had no new cases in Queensland overnight, and this is a clear indictor that our social distancing measures are proving to be effective.

“Over the last few days, we’ve seen a handful of cases each day. The last time we didn’t announce any new cases was on 9 March, 2020.

“All the strategies in place are working and Queenslanders have heard the message,” she said.

Dr Young said currently, 93 per cent of of confirmed cases have recently travelled overseas or had close contact with someone who travelled overseas, such as their partner or flatmate.

“We’ve seen very limited community transmission in Queensland, with only 40 cases where we don’t know the source of infection,” Dr Young said.

“This is a sign that we’re flattening the curve, but it’s not time to be complacent just yet. There’s still Queenslanders returning from overseas and interstate.

“It’s very encouraging that numbers have stayed low over the past week, and we want to keep it that way.

“Lifting restrictions too early could cost lives. We need to keep up our current approach, and ensure we can sustain these low numbers over a period of weeks until we can look into lifting restrictions.

“When it’s appropriate to do so, we will see if there’s some measures we can lift in conjunction with National Cabinet that will not lead to a bounceback of cases.

“Any lifting of restrictions will be conducted in a phased approach – they will not be lifted all at once. We will need to maintain a number of social distancing measures for many months to come to continue to contain the spread of COVID-19,” she said.

Dr Young said a total of 85,870 tests for COVID-19 has been undertaken in Queensland.

Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, 20 of the 275 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with seven of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.

Contact tracing continues for recent cases. Queensland Health will notify the community if any other public health alerts are required.

We want everyone to continue playing their part to protect themselves and the more vulnerable in our community. Please continue to follow the recommended advice from us and our federal counterparts in regards to social distancing, public gatherings and general wellbeing.

Critically, make sure you are practising good hygiene and staying home, especially if you’re sick. Washing your hands properly and often is the gold standard of health advice that can help prevent viruses from entering your body.

A person will generally be tested if they have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, and, in the last 14 days:

  • they were a close contact or a household contact of a confirmed case
  • they had been overseas, including on a cruise.

Testing may also be done for people who have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, AND:

  • work in vulnerable settings such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, a school or child care, correction facilities, detention centres, police and boarding schools.
  • live in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Cairns
  • live in or travelled from a COVID-19 hotspot
  • live in or travelled from another state
  • live in a First Nations community.

Queensland Health is urging anyone who meets this criteria for testing, to contact a doctor immediately.

Before your appointment, please call ahead and advise of your symptoms and recent travel they can prepare for your visit.

The most up-to-date reliable information is available on the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus

ENDS