3 August 2021
Public Health Alert - new exposure sites for Cairns and south-east Queensland
A public health alert is being issued for contact tracing locations in Cairns, Trinity Beach and Yorkey’s Knob after a person tested positive to COVID-19 today.
The circumstances of this case are currently being investigated and more information will be released at the daily media conference tomorrow.
Tests are currently being performed to determine whether there is any infection risk to the community.
Testing capacity is being increased in the Cairns and Hinterland Health Service region. People planning on attending the fever clinic at Cairns Hospital or COVID-19 drive-through clinic on Aumuller St can book online to help reduce their waiting time.
To find your nearest COVID-19 testing facility, visit Testing and fever clinics — coronavirus (COVID-19) | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au).
We are also reminding people in south-east Queensland to keep checking the contact tracing site as there are new locations in Spring Hill, St Lucia, Brisbane City, Indooroopilly, Sunnybank and Southport.
Contact tracing venues can be found at Contact tracing (exposure sites) — coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms at any time, no matter how mild, you should immediately get tested for COVID-19.
South-east Queensland cluster
Queenslanders are urged to be vigilant following 16 new locally acquired cases announced this morning.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young also said there were well over 400 healthcare workers currently in quarantine.
“We know this is a significant number of healthcare workers in quarantine, and unfortunately it means we have to delay non-urgent surgery and outpatient services as a result,” she said.
“All of our cardiac surgeons for the Queensland Children’s Hospital are in quarantine, so the impact is real and we’re making decisions on a case-by-case basis to ensure the most urgent cases can still receive care.
“Please know that no Queenslander will be denied urgent care because the healthcare workers they need are in quarantine – we will work through it with people to ensure they receive the appropriate support during this time.
“It’s vital we work meticulously and implement alternative arrangements – which we’re currently doing – as we simply cannot have healthcare workers going to a hospital and potentially passing on the virus.”
COVID-19 impact on some hospital services
Queensland Health is suspending some non-urgent services in Hospital and Health Services affected by the current cluster until next Sunday.
“Urgent services will continue to be provided based on clinical need,” Dr Wakefield said.
“This will help limit the number of people attending our health facilities during the lockdown, reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infections in our hospitals.
“It will also free up capacity and resources, including staff and beds. This will allow for deployment of staff to critical outbreak response functions including testing, vaccination and contact tracing as well as clinical care to COVID -19 patients.
“I apologise to anyone who is inconvenienced by this decision.”
Dr Wakefield said the suspension would be reviewed once public health officials had more information about the extent of the outbreak.
Patients who are affected will be contacted by their treating health service.