A major contact tracing effort will continue in south-east Queensland today as authorities work to determine if a new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in a Brisbane landscaper has spread further in the community.
Genomic testing on Friday linked the 26-year-old Stafford man's infection to another cluster in early March, which involved a doctor at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and two returned travellers in hotel quarantine in the city.
He visited numerous locations across Brisbane and the Moreton Bay region before testing positive on Thursday at the Nundah Respiratory Clinic, sparking a major contact tracing investigation.
Authorities said the man was highly infectious, and released a list of locations he had visited, saying anyone who had been to them at the same time should get tested immediately.
The man had the UK strain of the virus and was active in the community for several days before developing symptoms and getting tested.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the source of his infection remained unknown, but said an unidentified intermediary was probably the link between the first cluster and the new infection.
Lack of symptoms 'tricky for testing'
University of Queensland immunologist Dr Larisa Labzin said the new case showed there could be transmission within the community.
"It's entirely possible that some people have caught it and they haven't known that they've had it, because it doesn't necessarily give you symptoms.
"That makes it a bit tricky for testing."
Health authorities have reimposed restrictions on visitors at residential aged care facilities, disability accommodation centres, correctional facilities and hospitals across Brisbane and Moreton Bay, to be reviewed on Monday.
Dr Labzin said the extent of the spread from the Stafford man would likely depend on how active he was in the community and how strictly people were following COVID-safe measures.
"It's really a question of whether distancing practices were still being met, including good hygiene, because we know that that plays a huge part in limiting the spread," she said.
"We're lucky at the moment, it's quite warm, so we're spending a lot of time outside and that definitely helps us prevent transmission.
"Even while things appear to be pretty normal with not many cases around, it can very easily change … so, it's always worth making sure you wash your hands and you're still maintaining that distance — you're still being COVID safe."
Dr Young has urged the community to be vigilant with their COVID safety in response to the new case.
The use of masks hasn't been mandated but people have been asked to wear them in crowded situations this weekend.
Dr Labzin said the level of response from the government was appropriate, but people could take further action on their own accord.
"Even if masks haven't been mandated, if it's something small that you can do, that will make it safer for you, and for everyone else, like maintaining good hygiene, maintaining that distance, those things are really important."
"We have to stay vigilant."
Venues updated
On Friday evening Queensland Health updated the list of locations visited by the man while infectious.
Mamma's Italian Waterfront Restaurant at Redcliffe has been listed as a close contact venue.
Anyone who attended the restaurant between 12:30pm and 3:10pm on Sunday March 21 is being told to quarantine themselves at home immediately and call 13HEALTH.
People who have been at any of the casual contact venues listed below are being told to get tested and isolate themselves at home until they receive a negative result.
Saturday March 20
- Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre, including Shinobi Ramen Noodle Shop, Fresh Sensations, Go Vita, Robins Kitchen, Harris Scarfe and Kmart, between midday and 2:16pm
- Market Organics at Newmarket, between 2:45pm and 3:00pm
- Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream at Everton Park, between 9:20pm and 9:25pm
Sunday March 21
- Genki Mart at Alderley, between 10:30am and 10:46am
Monday March 22
- Guzman y Gomez drive through at Stafford, between 12:20pm and 12:25pm
- Bunnings at Stafford, between 12:40pm and 12:50pm
Thursday March 25
- Aldi at Stafford, between 8:30am and 8:45am
- Nundah Respiratory Clinic at Nundah, between 11:15am and 11:40am
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2021-03-26 18:53:04Z
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