The Chief Health Officer is closely monitoring Brisbane after a 26 year old male tested positive to COVID-19 yesterday, having spent a week in the community, visiting various locations across the city while infectious.
The individual visited a number of locations across the city while infectious which have been listed as exposure sites by Queensland authorities.
Exposure sites are expected to broaden as the investigation continues. Current exposure sites are listed here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing.
Anyone who is currently in the Northern Territory who visited a listed Queensland Government exposure site at the specified date and time is required to get a COVID-19 within 72 hours test and isolate until a negative test is returned.
If you have arrived in the Northern Territory from greater metropolitan Brisbane since 20 March 2021 and are displaying COVID-19 symptoms you are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test and self-isolate until a negative test is returned.
Please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002 to book a test. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test unless you were at any of the listed sites, or you are unwell. For all other enquiries phone 1800 490 484.
If you are intending to travel to the Northern Territory from Brisbane and have visited a listed site you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are a Territorian intending to travel to Brisbane you are advised to rethink your plans.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Brisbane and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.
The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.
- If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
- Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres at all times.
- Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
- Do not go to work if you feel sick.
- If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19.
Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie:
"This is the first locally acquired case of COVID-19 in Queensland in some weeks, and we are again utilising a proportionate and considered response to this case given the circumstances.
"I will continue to monitor the situation in Queensland over the weekend which at this time remains at just one case.
"Queensland authorities have published a detailed list of exposure sites which we can expect to broaden as their investigation into this case continues.
"I will not hesitate to declare a hotspot if required, and encourage anyone who is currently in, or intending to travel to Brisbane to monitor the situation and assess the risk.
"It also timely to consider how important it is to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as an additional precaution. The Northern Territory has administered over 6500 inoculations since the rollout began on 22 February 2021."
