Six new coronavirus cases have been linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol, where a 77-year-old supervisor tested positive for the virus earlier this week, health officials in Queensland say.
Key points:
- More than 500 workers and 127 inmates are being tested
- Greater Brisbane will now allow a maximum of 10 people allowed to gather at home or outdoors
- Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she feared the cluster could be widespread
The Wacol facility, west of Brisbane, was put into lockdown on Thursday.
More than 500 workers and 127 inmates are being tested for the virus — 56 results have so far come back negative.
As a result of the cluster, strict new restrictions will be imposed on gatherings in South-East Queensland.
Gatherings at homes and outdoors will be limited to 10 people across Greater Brisbane from today.
Facilities that have COVID-safe plans, including cafes, restaurants and gyms, will not be affected by the restrictions.
The rest of Queensland will be limited to 30 people.
The regions affected by the restrictions are: Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Moreton and Redlands.
Health authorities still do not know where the supervisor — a 77-year-old woman — contracted the illness.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she feared the cluster could be widespread.
"We're concerned about this cluster because people have been out and about in the community," she said.
Aged care homes in the regions will also go into lockdown.
Nine new cases for Queensland
Queensland has recorded a total of nine new coronavirus cases overnight, with six linked to the youth detention centre and three from cargo ships.
Ms Palaszczuk said more information would be released throughout the day with details on where the new cases had been in the community.
"As we get that information we will absolutely be letting the community know," she said.
"We're concerned about any contacts these people might have had.
"Let's also bear in mind too that we may get further cases of workers at the detention centre."
Queensland now has 15 active cases, with a total of seven cases linked to the youth detention centre.
Yesterday, Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said the infected supervisor "mostly went to and from work".
"But we're just working with her to identify where else she might have been and who else might have been exposed, but the main priority right now is testing people at the detention centre."
Queensland Corrective Services has also suspended personal visits at all South-East Queensland prisons, including Arthur Gorrie, Borallon and Wolston correctional centres.
The Department of Youth Justice said plans were in place to ensure staff and detainees have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and still receive support in terms of health, education and contact with family.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA4LTIyL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNhc2VzLWxpbmtlZC10by1icmlzYmFuZS15b3V0aC1kZXRlbnRpb24tY2VudHJlLzEyNTg1NDQ40gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNTg1NDQ4?oc=5
2020-08-21 21:19:00Z
52781009614778
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Six new coronavirus cases linked to Brisbane Youth Detention Centre as restrictions reimposed - ABC News"
Post a Comment