Covid Queensland: Highest daily spike recorded as virus spreads

  • Queensland reports 16 new cases of coronavirus

  • Chief Health Officer reveals how call will be made to end lockdown

  • 'Absolute rubbish': Police warn about mask non-compliance

Queensland has reported its highest spike of the latest Covid-19 outbreak with 16 new cases.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles told reporters on Tuesday the Indooroopilly cluster now has a total of 47 cases attached to it.

People are seen at a Covid Testing Centre at Indooroopilly High School Brisbane , Sunday, August 1, 2021. Queensland has gone into a snap three-day lockdown after six locally-acquired cases of COVID-19, reported on Saturday, were linked to an Indooroopilly High School student. (AAP Image/Jason O'Brien) NO ARCHIVING
People undergo coronavirus testing at Indooroopilly State High School, Brisbane. Source: AAP

"The lockdown currently in place in the southeast — it is important that it's complied with throughout all 11 local government areas," Mr Miles said.

"There are concerns of exposure not just in Brisbane but also on the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast and this's why we have included all of the local government areas in between."

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said she is "still concerned" authorities do not know how two travellers transmitted highly infectious Delta variant of the virus to families in the Indooroopilly area.

"We need to continue testing throughout the 11 LGAs and throughout Queensland —it is really important so we can make sure that we don't have any other transmission events, any outbreaks happening. Please get tested, any symptoms, get tested," she said.

"Please don't move the virus. Wherever you are in the 11 LGAs, if you can, stay put so the virus doesn't move."

The 11 locked down LGAs are Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young, flanked by Deputy Premier Steven Miles speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Brisbane.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said authorities are still trying to determine how the latest outbreak started. Source: AAP

How Queensland will make call on lockdown

Queensland reported 13 new locally-acquired cases of coronavirus on Monday.

It led to the lockdown, which was originally scheduled to finish at 4pm on Tuesday, to be extended to Sunday on 4pm.

Dr Young was asked what it would take to ensure the lockdown does not get extended again.

"On Sunday, we will want to have seen that any new cases that have been coming up have been in quarantine for their full infectious period," she said.

The Chief Health Officer was also asked if she knew how many cases had been in quarantine for the entirety of their infectious period to which she replied: "not at the moment".

"Some have been out infectious in the community for up to six days," Dr Young said.

"It's too early to expect all of these people have been in quarantine."

She added she is more concerned about infectious cases in the community than on total cases numbers.

Police talk to a man not wearing a mask as they check for compliance with lockdown orders in central Brisbane.
Queensland Police speak with a man not wearing a mask in Brisbane's CBD. Source: AAP

'Absolute rubbish': Queenslanders not wearing masks

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police handed out 168 masks on Monday.

Dep Comm Gollschewski added people are still refusing to wear them which is a $260 fine.

"I was disappointed to see reporting last night where a gentleman was saying masks don't work," he said.

"The science and common sense tell you that's absolute rubbish. People need to stop listening to that. It's not correct."

Dr Young said if people are exempt from wearing masks due to medical reasons and have not had two doses of vaccine they probably should not be out in public.

“These masks are to protect people, so if you cannot wear a mask because of a medical reason and there are medical reasons for it, and you haven't been vaccinated, you from really at high risk (group)," she said.

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