Queensland has reported four new locally acquired cases of the coronavirus, but the premier has urged the state not to panic because “we’ve been here before”.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gave an update on the first infections in weeks while she was visiting the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile in Brisbane, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said she had a “reasonable level of concern” about the latest cases but she was not calling a snap lockdown.
“At this stage I don’t think a lockdown is warranted but that might change,” said Dr Young.
The four cases include a fully vaccinated man in his 30s from Eatons Hill who works at an aviation training facility whose case was reported late on Monday night.
The aviation employee was infectious in the community for three days from September 23 and alerts have been issued for exposure sites in Eatons Hill, Rocklea, Aspley and Albany Creek.
It’s believed he may have picked up the virus after coming into contact with overseas pilots as part of his work.
The man was fully vaccinated but had only recently received his second dose.
The second case is his wife who has been taken to hospital but a third member of their household has tested negative.
Ms Palaszczuk said there was more concern about a third case detected in a truck driver who had been infectious in the community for eight days and had stayed at accommodation in Spring Hill and Stephens Road South Brisbane.
Authorities are working through the man’s movements.
The fourth case of less concern was a woman who had travelled from Timor-Leste and had completed two weeks of hotel quarantine, returning a positive result five days after being released.
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Ms Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to come forward and get tested but said there was no need for alarm.
As a result of the latest cases, she said people in Brisbane and Moreton Bay would again be required to wear masks indoors.
Restrictions would also be reintroduced for aged care, disability and corrective services.
“Can I just say to everyone, we’ve been here before, I know southeast Queensland will rise to the challenge once again,” she said.
“It is so important for people to use the Check-In app and until we get to 80 per cent fully vaccinated, the masks are our best line of defence, so please Queensland, please use these masks, especially in Brisbane and Moreton Bay regions.”
Health minister Yvette D’ath warned that “this virus in on our doorstep” and urged Queenslanders not to wait until we had more transmission before getting vaccinated.
Ms D’ath said there were plenty of options for people to get a vaccine today, from pharmacies to GPs and vaccine hubs.
Ms Palaszczuk said it would also become mandatory for truck drivers entering from other states to get fully vaccinated after seven infected truckies had been picked up in Queensland since August 24.
From October 15, truck drivers will be required to have had one dose of a vaccine and then be fully vaccinated, or have a booking for a second dose, from November 15.
Starting on Tuesday, a roadside vaccine clinic would be opened at John Flynn Hospital in Tugun on the Gold Coast.
Freight drivers will also be required to produce a negative COVID test result at the border from within a seven-day period and maintain a seven-day rolling test regime while operating in the state.
There were 9328 tests undertaken on Monday while 18,432 vaccines were administered.
So far 64.1 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had their first dose and 45.13 per cent are fully vaccinated.
