Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update

23 April 2020

Queensland has two new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) raising the state total to 1,026.

* 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 said currently, 955 of the 1,026 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.

“We’ve continued to see limited community transmission in Queensland, with 42 cases where we don’t know the source of infection,” Dr Young said.

“It’s encouraging that numbers are staying very low this week, with only eight cases recorded so far, and we want to keep it that way.

“Queenslanders continue to be reminded to stay home as much as possible, and stay in their suburb when undertaking essential activities such as going to the supermarket or exercising,” she said.

Dr Young said a total of 92,699 tests for COVID-19 has been undertaken in Queensland, with 2,539 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.

Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, 20 of the 282 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:

• live or work in a high-risk setting such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facility, detention centre or boarding school
• work in a school or child care setting or are a Queensland Police Officer
• live in:
  • Brisbane (residents within the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services boundaries)
  • Gold Coast or
  • Cairns (the area bounded by and including Palm Cove to the north, Mareeba to the west, and Gordonvale to the south)
• 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

The Queensland Health website now includes detailed information by Local Government Area on the number of active and recovered COVID-19 cases, likely source of infection, age and gender breakdowns of confirmed cases and number of self-quarantine notices. You can access this information at www.health.qld.gov.au/covid-data