Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update

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17 April 2020

Queensland has six new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) raising the state total to 1007.

HHS* Active cases Recovered casesDeaths Total confirmed
cases to date
Cairns and Hinterland 8 24 0 32
Central Queensland 8 1 0 9
Central West 0 0 0 0
Darling Downs 15 25 2 42
Gold Coast 115 73 0 188
Mackay 10 5 0 15
Metro North 232 75 2 309
Metro South 104 135 0 239
North West 0 0 0 0
South West 0 0 0 0
Sunshine Coast 21 67 1 89
Torres and Cape 0 0 0 0
Townsville 12 11 0 23
West Moreton 20 17 0 37
Wide Bay 15 9 0 24
Overseas 0 0 0 0
Total56044251007**

* 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.

Contact tracing is underway for the six new cases. Queensland Health will notify the community if any other public health alerts are required.

The majority of cases are from patients who have travelled overseas, or have had direct contact with a confirmed case who had travelled overseas.

The number of confirmed cases we see each day is expected to vary as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 situation across the state.

We want everyone to know they can play their part to protect themselves and the more vulnerable in our community. Please 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 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