A Queensland aged care worker has tested positive to COVID-19, becoming the state’s only new confirmed case on Saturday following a record-breaking testing blitz.
The aged care centre where she works, Bolton Clarke Aged Care facility in Pinjarra Hills, remains in lockdown. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said on Saturday that it is possible the woman was unknowingly infectious during her last shift.
The aged care worker is the wife of a 27-year-old Bellbird Park man who tested positive to the virus after dining at the same Sunnybank restaurant as one of the two women who allegedly lied to authorities on their return from interstate hot spots.
The two women spent eight days out and about in Brisbane upon their return to Queensland.
The Bellbird Park man’s positive test was the first confirmed case of community transmission in Queensland since May, and has triggered thousands of tests as the state desperately try to avoid an outbreak.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said this morning that 11,560 tests had been completed in the past 24 hours.
IN LOCKDOWN
Healthcare staff from Metro North Hospital and Health Service will come to the aid of the 150 staff and 105 residents at Bolton Clarke Aged Care, some of whom will need to go into quarantine as they await further testing.
“This facility is superb, it couldn’t be better set up,” Dr Young said.
“We are asking staff to monitor residents much more closely for any symptoms and testing all residents and staff to assist the nursing home to manage all residents.
“We want to assure families the residents are receiving the best possible care, there are no concerns about that.”
ONE CASE IN QUEENSLAND
Dr Young said it was ‘fantastic news’ that only one new case had been confirmed, after initial fears the sheer number of venues the women had visited would spark mass community transmission.
“I ask the community to continue to do what they’re doing, and to come forward and get tested if they are concerned or have symptoms,” Dr Young said.
“I am sorry people had to wait in queues to get tested, and thank you very much for your perseverence.”
WOMEN CHARGED WITH FRAUD
The two women who allegedly lied to authorities, and a third said to have travelled with them but who did not contract the virus, were earlier this week charged with fraud and providing false or misleading documents.
The 19-year-old and two 21-year-olds, who are also being investigated for a possible link to organised crime, face up to five years’ imprisonment for the fraud charge and a $13,345 fine for the other.
They arrived back in Queensland on July 21 after flying from Melbourne via Sydney. It’s alleged they lied about their movements to authorities and flouted directions to get tested after developing symptoms.
A number of businesses were forced to close and urgent contact tracing undertaken for a number of south Brisbane restaurants, businesses and shopping centres.
Since Wednesday more than 25,000 people have been tested for the virus in Queensland, resulting in massive traffic queues outside drive-through clinics and waits of up to seven hours at hospitals around the south side.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMimgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9xdWVlbnNsYW5kL25ld3MvcWxkLXJlY29yZHMtb25lLW5ldy1jYXNlcy1hZnRlci1yZWNvcmQtYnJlYWtpbmctdGVzdGluZy1ibGl0ei9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzMzNmJlN2YyYzYwOWVkNzA0ZThjODRlMDc3NmY5NGRk0gGaAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLm5ld3MuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3F1ZWVuc2xhbmQvbmV3cy9xbGQtcmVjb3Jkcy1vbmUtbmV3LWNhc2VzLWFmdGVyLXJlY29yZC1icmVha2luZy10ZXN0aW5nLWJsaXR6L25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvMzM2YmU3ZjJjNjA5ZWQ3MDRlOGM4NGUwNzc2Zjk0ZGQ?oc=5
2020-08-01 02:26:15Z
52780967931861
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Coronavirus Queensland: Aged care worker tests positive to COVID-19 - NEWS.com.au"
Post a Comment