Ipswich hospitals, aged care facilities and disability services that have been a part of the additional COVID-19 restrictions for the past three days, has been extended for another 72 hours.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the extension was because of the incident at the Hotel Grand Chancellor where a case was linked to the Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor who tested positive to COVID-19.
Greater Brisbane hospitals, aged care and disability services were closed to non-essential visitors on Saturday 13 March after fears of community transmission after a doctor tested positive after they had been out in the community.
Anyone attending these facilities in Greater Brisbane, including staff, must wear a mask.
People will still be able to visit their loved ones who are at end of life.
“We will be able to update everyone on Friday,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“And fingers crossed it will be good news, and that would then mean on the weekend people would be able to go and see their loved ones.”
Over 1,000 people have been contact traced from the infected Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor, and of those that have been determined to be close contacts, 58 per cent have already tested negative.
There is no sign of community transmission so far and the Greater Brisbane restrictions have been extended as a precautionary measure.
Queensland Deputy Chief Health Officer Sonya Bennett said with respect to the Hotel Grand Chancellor incident, those events are still unfolding.
“What I can tell you is that all the staff who worked through that period of risk, from 5 until 9 March, have been tested yesterday,” she said.
“All the guests who have left the hotel since 1 March have been contacted as well and requested to isolate and get tested.”
It is important to:
- Stay home if you are sick
- If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested
- Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps
- Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitizer
- Leave the location if it is crowded.
If you have any concerns about your health, contact your doctor or contact 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
