Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update

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18 May 2020

Queensland has two new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to report today.

HHS*Active casesRecovered casesDeathsTotal confirmed cases to date
Cairns and Hinterland134035
Central Queensland1809
Central West0000
Darling Downs040242
Gold Coast21930195
Mackay015015
Metro North13133317
Metro South62580264
North West0000
South West0000
Sunshine Coast192194
Torres and Cape0000
Townsville024024
West Moreton137038
Wide Bay024024
Overseas0000
Total13103861057**

* 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.

Some restrictions have been lifted in Queensland allowing more travel, more activities, and larger gatherings.

Permitted activities include:

  • Up to five people can visit your home from separate households for day visits.
  • Up to 10 people can gather for non-contact outdoor activities.
  • You can travel up to 150km radius from your home (or 500km if you live in outback Queensland) for recreational activities.
  • Up to 10 people (or up to 20 people for outback Queensland local residents) can dine in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licensed clubs and RSL clubs provided the business is following a COVID SAFE checklist.

For more information on what is allowed under Stage 1 of the roadmap to easing restrictions, visit www.covid19.qld.gov.au.

Further restrictions are planned to be lifted in June and July, however we need 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 regard to social distancing, public gatherings and general wellbeing.

If the area you plan to visit is crowded and you can’t easily practice the 1.5 metre social distancing rule, you are encouraged to move to another site.

Critically, make sure you are practising good hygiene and stay home 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.

Queensland’s testing criteria has been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.

If you are unwell and you meet the above criteria, you should contact a doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Before your appointment, please call ahead and tell them about your symptoms so they can prepare for your visit.

Currently, 1,012 of the 1,057 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or interstate, or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.

A total of 155,755 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 1,535 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.

Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, four of the 13 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with one of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.

A total of 1,038 Queenslanders (98 per cent of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.

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

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

ENDS