Queensland has recorded three new COVID-19 cases overnight, taking the state’s total to 30 active cases.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were ‘no concerns’ over the three new cases.
“Two were acquired overseas and are in hotel quarantine, and none of them are from the guests at the Grand Chancellor,” she said.
“There is one case that is being reported in Cairns, but that is a historical case.
“We have no concerns about those three today.”
She reminded Queenslanders to get tested if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, after 10,820 people were tested over the past 24 hours.
The Premier said they were continuing to look at alternative forms of quarantine accommodation following the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster.
“I just want to update everyone that these investigations will continue about looking at different options,” she said.
“As I said, I will be discussing this at National Cabinet Friday week. Please give me the opportunity to speak to my federal counterparts, and of course this is a proposal that we are looking at.
Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster update
All 129 people who were this week transferred from the Grand Chancellor Hotel have tested negative.
Of the 147 people who left the Grand Chancellor since 30 December 2020, all those in Queensland have been tested and returned negative results.
All 226 staff have been contacted, and are currently being tested.
“Of course there needs to be a lot of work that is done there, but I think that we need to have these options on the table because as we know there’s a lot of this UK strain circulating at the moment in the UK and in parts of the Northern Hemisphere and we do need to make sure that we have the best line of defence here in Queensland to combat this virus.”
A Queensland Health spokesperson addressed an alleged hotel quarantine breach reported on Thursday in the media.
“Queensland Health is aware of an article regarding an alleged COVID-19 quarantine breach,” the spokesperson said
“All protocols were followed in this case. Guests were transported from and returned to the hotel by Qld Ambulance Service while in appropriate PPE.
“The suggestion the person caught a ride-share back to the hotel is untrue.
“Full and proper COVID-19 PPE protocols were followed while these guests were in the hospital.
“We have successfully managed the quarantine of over 100,000 people in Queensland, and have not had a single case because of the movement of these people.”
Read also:
Restrictions are in place until 22 January for the Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redlands areas.
Restrictions at a glance
- You must carry a mask at all times.
- Masks must be worn in indoor places including shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, places of worship, libraries, public transport, and taxis and rideshare vehicles.
- Masks must be worn in workplaces if social distancing isn’t possible and it’s safe to do so.
- You don’t need to wear a mask in private vehicles, while outdoors at a safe distance from other people or if you’re doing strenuous exercise.
- Businesses and venues can have one person per 4 square metres indoors and one person per 2 square metres outdoors.
- Smaller venues up to 200 square metres can have one person per 2 square metres up to a maximum of 50.
- You must be seated to eat and drink, and no dancing is allowed except at weddings.
- Gatherings are restricted to 20 people in homes and public spaces.
- Weddings and funerals can have up to 100 people, and dancing is allowed at weddings without restrictions.
- Indoor concert venues and theatres can operate at 50 per cent capacity or one person per four square metres, whichever is greater.
- Outdoor stadiums can operate at 50 per cent capacity with COVID-safe plans.
- Restrictions on visits to hospitals, aged care, disability accommodation and prisons will remain.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia.
People with coronavirus may experience symptoms such as:
- fever
- respiratory symptoms
- coughing
- sore throat
- shortness of breath.
Other symptoms can include runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste, loss of appetite and fatigue.
To stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory infection should get tested.