Queensland reports two new Covid cases in the community
Unvaccinated teenager, 17, and young Melbourne woman test positive to Covid-19 in Queensland - as Annastacia Palaszczuk warns just one case could cause a 'massive outbreak'
By Michael Pickering For Daily Mail Australia
Published:|Updated:
56shares154
Viewcomments
Queensland has two new cases of community-acquired Covid infection, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in state parliament.
One case is an unvaccinated 17-year-old person from the Gold Coast who is a close contact of a woman who travelled from NSW.
The other case is a woman in her 30s from Melbourne who is currently in home quarantine.
Exposure sites in Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast were also released by Queensland Health after a truck driver tested positive in NSW. He is considered a NSW case.
Ms Palaszczuk said the woman from Melbourne was considered low risk because she was in quarantine.
She warned that one case of Delta could cause 'a massive outbreak' in the state.
'Because of the time it takes between doses, Queenslanders have just five days to get a first dose so they can be fully vaccinated in time for Christmas when families can once again be reunited with loved ones,' she told parliament.
Ms Palaszczuk said the 17-year-old had presented to the emergency department with a headache and lived with a woman who had travelled from NSW.
'Investigations are underway as to how that person arrived into Queensland,' the premier said.
There is no suggestion that the new Gold Coast case is linked to that of Uber driver Duran Raman, who tested positive last week after a trip to Sydney and Melbourne and remains in isolation at Gold Coast University Hospital.
The Gold Coast area had been on alert since the discovery of Mr Raman's case but other than the teenager's infection announced today, no further cases had so far been detected in the region.
Police were called to Gold Coast University Hospital on Sunday following reports Raman, 36, had allegedly tried to flee hospital quarantine, despite needing a constant supply of oxygen.
Sources alleged Raman had been an uncooperative patient who verbally abused nurses and called them c**ts.
He also allegedly insisted he 'doesn't really have' Covid-19 and claimed the virus wasn't real.
Queensland has two new cases of community-acquired Covid infection, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in state parliament
Fresh Fields FoodWorks Thabeban, 2/1A Thabeban St, Bundaberg Central, 4pm-4.45pmSaturday - Saturday, October 23 (low risk contact)
Caboolture South Travel Centre (truck stop area men’s toilet), Glass House Mountains - Saturday, October 23 (close contact)
AdvertisementShareMs Palaszczuk said 75.22 per cent of Queenslanders had now received one dose of a Covid vaccine, while 60.7 percent of the population 16 and over were now fully vaccinated.
Queensland's vaccination rate is lagging behind other parts of Australia and the state government is attempting to lift the rate to 70 per cent of the population with two doses of a Covid vaccine by November 19, when a phased reopening of the state starts.
'On November 19 anyone from an interstate hotspot will be able to travel into Queensland provided they arrive by air, are fully vaccinated and produce a negative Covid test,' Ms Palaszczuk said.
People arriving on or after that date will be required to complete 14 days home quarantine.
'Make no mistake, Covid is coming,' she said.
People queue to receive a Covid-19 vaccine at a Bunnings hardware store in Brisbane, Queensland
Queensland's vaccination rate is lagging behind other parts of Australia and the state government is attempting to lift the rate to 70 per cent of the population with two doses of a Covid vaccine by November 19
Central Queensland had only 66 per cent of residents with a single dose of vaccine, Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament, while some communities in the far north of the estate were still below 50 per cent.
Pop-up clinics at some of Queensland's major theme parks, including DreamWorld, SeaWorld and Australia Zoo would be open this weekend, the premier said.
From December 17 onwards, visitors from declared hotpots will be able to visit Queensland by road or airprovided they are full vaccinated and produce a negative Covid test 72 hours before entry. No quarantine will be required.
Visitors from non-hotspots will have no restrictions placed on entry after that date.
The state also announced it would reopen to fully vaccinated international students before the first semester of study in 2022.
Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said up to 250 international students per week will be permitted to enter Queensland and quarantine at the facility currently being constructed by Wagner Corporation at Wellcamp, near Toowoomba.
Share what you think
View allThe comments below have not been moderated.
View allThe views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.
Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisementNEW ARTICLESHomeTopShareSitemapArchiveVideo ArchiveTopics IndexMobile AppsScreensaverRSSText-based siteReader PrintsOur PapersTop of pageDaily MailMail onSundayThis is MoneyMetroJobsiteMail TravelZoopla.co.ukPrime LocationPublished by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
dmg mediaContact usHow to complainLeadership TeamAdvertise with usContributorsTermsDo not sell my infoAbout MailOnlinePrivacy policy & cookiesAdvertisementAdvertisement
