Genomic testing has shown Brisbane's latest locally acquired COVID-19 case is linked to a previous cluster involving two overseas travellers and a doctor at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Key points:
- Genomic testing has confirmed the Brisbane landscaper is infected with the UK strain
- Authorities don't know how he became infected
- Other states and territories have moved swiftly to restrict travel from Queensland
Overnight, a 26-year-old landscaper from Stafford, in Brisbane's inner north, tested positive to COVID-19, in the first-known community transmission in Queensland in 13 days.
Queensland Health said the genomic testing confirmed the man had the B117 variant, also known as the UK strain.
Authorities are now investigating how he contracted the virus, but say it is likely he caught it from an unidentified intermediary.
The landscaper's positive case has sparked another large contact-tracing exercise.
The 26-year-old man is now being treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and his housemates are being isolated and tested.
Public health alerts have been issued for several venues across Brisbane and visitor restrictions have been reimposed on hospitals, correctional facilities, aged care and disability centres in Brisbane and the Moreton Bay region.
Anyone who visited specific venues at the same times as the man, as well as anyone in Brisbane or Moreton Bay who feels unwell, has been urged to get tested immediately.
It's not known how the man caught coronavirus
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said authorities were looking into how the man became infected.
"We will know more in the next 24 hours, but in the meantime, those identified as visiting the locations in today's Public Health Alert should immediately get tested and isolate until you receive your results," she said.
"Anyone identified as a close contact will be contacted by the Public Health Unit and required to quarantine.
"We therefore cannot afford to be complacent — if you have any COVID symptoms at all, please come forward and get tested."
Queensland Health has stood up additional testing facilities, including in Eight Mile Plains Community Health Centre, the Pine Rivers Assessment Clinic and Wynnum-Manly Community Health Centre, Gundu Pa.
Fragments of the virus have been detected at the Luggage Point wastewater treatment plant near Brisbane airport, as well as at a plant in Rockhampton.
States impose restrictions on Queensland
Other states and territories have moved quickly to respond to Queensland's latest case.
Victoria has designated Brisbane and Moreton Bay an orange zone under the state's traffic light travel permit system, meaning anyone entering Victoria from that zone must apply for a permit and self-isolate until they receive a negative COVID test result.
New South Wales has asked recent arrivals from Queensland to be vigilant and follow the latest health advice.
Anyone who was at the venues on the contact list is banned from entering New South Wales. If they are already in New South Wales, they have been told to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days.
In Tasmania, any Queenslanders who have been to the venues listed by contact tracers will be asked to self-isolate immediately, while other people who have been to those locations will be banned from entering Tasmania unless they are an essential traveller.
In Western Australia, anyone who has entered the state from March 20 and has visited the listed locations must get tested immediately and self-quarantine for 14 days.
Anyone who has arrived in the Northern Territory from Queensland since March 20 and attended any locations must get tested within 72 hours and isolate until a negative test is returned.
In South Australia, anyone who has been in Brisbane or Moreton Bay local government areas since March 20 has been advised to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive their results.
ACT Health has asked people who visited a listed site to get tested and quarantine for 14 days from when they were at the site, and has banned anyone from Greater Brisbane from entering healthcare, aged care or disability care facilities.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAzLTI2L3F1ZWVuc2xhbmQtY292aWQtY2FzZS1saW5rZWQtdG8tcGEtaG9zcGl0YWwtY2x1c3Rlci1icmlzYmFuZS8xMDAwMzEzMjTSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwMDMxMzI0?oc=5
2021-03-26 08:17:31Z
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