COVID-19 update: Springfield Central location added to exposure site list

A new local exposure site was recorded at Mater Private Hospital at Springfield Central overnight, as authorities urge residents in eleven Local Government Areas to avoid leaving home unless absolutely necessary.

Attendees at the Mater on Thursday 29 July from 1pm to 4.30pm have been asked to come forward for testing to support the containment of the more severe and contagious delta strain of COVID-19.

Sixteen new locally acquired cases were recorded overnight all linked to the Indooroopilly Delta cluster, bringing the total cases to 47 in the current cluster.

One case is linked to Indooroopilly High School, four cases linked to Brisbane Grammar School, two cases are linked to Brisbane Girls Grammar, three new cases are linked to Ironside State School, five are household or family contacts of already known cases and one a neighbour of a known case.

There were a total of 34,718 COVID tests conducted on Monday.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding urged Ipswich to work together to keep the community safe.

“Thank you to each and every resident who showed your support for our healthcare workers and contact tracers by getting tested yesterday,” Mayor Harding said.

“It’s everyone’s job to stop this virus from spreading.

“That means following the directive to stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave, getting tested if you have been to any of the exposure sites or have any symptoms, and supporting our family and friends online or over the phone.”

Contact Tracing

A COVID-19 positive case has been at the Mater Private Hospital, 30 Health Care Drive, Springfield Central on Thursday 29 July from 1pm to 4.30pm.

The hospital has been listed by Queensland Health as a low risk exposure site. If you were there during those times you must get tested at your earliest convenience, but you do not need to quarantine until you receive a negative test result.

Queensland Health asks you continue to monitor for symptoms, and if you become symptomatic get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Contact tracing venues can be found at http://health.qld.gov.au/tracing

Testing clinics

A new 24-hour COVID testing clinic has been established in Eight Mile Plains on Brisbane’s southside.

The clinic is being run by Queensland Ambulance Service and is located at Eight Mile Plains Community Health Centre, 51 McKechnie Drive.

Authorities say around-the-clock testing will be crucial for essential workers and shift workers with irregular hours in the fight against this latest outbreak.

Increased testing capacity, with additional testing locations and extended operating hours have now come into effect.

Due to increased demand, private testing and respiratory clinics will not require a GP referral until midnight Friday 6 August 2021.

Participating providers include Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP), Queensland Medical Laboratories (QML), 4Cyte Pathology, Medlab Pathology, Mater Pathology and Genomics for Life.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 you can visit your local doctor, fever clinic or respiratory clinic. Find more information about those here.

To find a COVID testing location near you, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics

Lockdown

The South East Queensland lockdown is currently until 4pm Sunday, 8 August 2021.

People in the local government areas of Ipswich, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast are in lockdown.

Residents in South East Queensland can only leave home (which includes temporary accommodation such as a holiday rental) for essential purposes:

• Obtaining essential goods or services, including healthcare
• Exercising in your local area – it can only be within 10km of your home, and within 10km of your personal trainer’s home if you are exercising with a personal trainer
• Attending essential work or school and childcare for the children of essential workers or vulnerable children
• Assisting a vulnerable person or family member
• Obtaining a COVID-19 test or vaccination

Face masks

You must carry a face mask with you at all times. You must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, unless:

• you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
• you are eating or drinking
• you are at your usual workplace and can physically distance from others (except if you work in a public-facing role in a hospitality venue or are a passenger transport operator)
• you are alone outdoors or exercising alone outdoors with members of your household. If you pass others, you must put on your mask
• it is unsafe.

There are some other exceptions to wearing face masks, including for children under 12 and people with particular medical conditions or disabilities. If in doubt, wear a face mask.

COVID-19 Vaccine

• Eligible people can now book to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a Queensland Health vaccination location.
• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended for use during pregnancy.
• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now the preferred vaccine for use in people under the age of 60.

Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine.