11 February 2021
Queensland is continuing to monitor the situation in Greater Melbourne, following no new cases overnight.
Queensland’s Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Sonya Bennett said while the growing list of venues visited by COVID-positive people is a concern, there will be no border changes at this stage.
“No new cases overnight associated with the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn cluster is good news, so we’ll continue to watch the situation,” she said.
“As a precaution, we will be reinstating border passes for anyone travelling to Queensland from Victoria from Saturday 13 February.
“I continue to remind anyone who has been to any of the listed venues in Greater Melbourne to come forward, get tested, follow the advice of VIC Health to quarantine for 14 days, and call 13 HEALTH.
“Anyone who has been in Greater Melbourne on or since 5 February, but hasn’t been to one of the venues, should come forward for testing and isolate until you receive a negative result.
“I have every confidence VIC Health are doing everything they can to contain this outbreak.
“If the situation takes a turn for the worst, we may need to act, so I continue to ask Queenslanders to reconsider the need to travel to Victoria.
“If you do decide to go, I recommend you have plans in place to get back to Queensland quickly.
“And, of course, anyone in Queensland with any symptoms of COVID-19 – no matter how mild – should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.”
Dr Bennett said Queensland will continue to restrict visitors to vulnerable facilities.
“As a precaution, restrictions will remain in place for anyone who has been in Greater Melbourne for our aged care facilities, hospitals, disability accommodation services and correction facilities,” she said.
“I want to thank Queenslanders once again for continuing to follow the health advice – it’s because of your swift action and ongoing support that we continue to have minimal restrictions in Queensland.”
To view the list of affected venues in Greater Melbourne, visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
Testing locations in Queensland are available at www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing
Queensland will also continue to monitor the situation in New South Wales.
Anyone in Queensland who has been to the listed venues in New South Wales should come forward for testing, follow the NSW Health advice to quarantine for 14 days, and call 13 HEALTH.
To view the list of affected venues in New South Wales, visit the New South Wales Health website.
Fragments of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in Thorneside wastewater treatment plant in Brisbane’s south.
Dr Bennett said concerns remain high as we continue to see more detections across the state.
“Wastewater detections could very well mean there is a case in the community we are unaware of, which is why it’s vital we continue urging anyone with symptoms to come forward for testing,” she said.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.
“It is, of course, also possible that this detection relates to previous COVID-19 cases who can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious,” she said.
For more information about Queensland’s wastewater surveillance program, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/wastewater
ENDS