Then she travelled up to the outskirts of Maleny where she remains at her parents’ home. “Her parents have been tested and we‘re working through any close contacts that need to be looked at there,” Dr Young said.“Anyone in that area around Maleny, if they develop any symptoms, could they please come forward immediately and get tested. Dr Young said the risk was “very, very, very low” because the woman was right at the end of her potential infectious period.“With a normal variant, we would not be at all concerned. Ten days is more than sufficient and she is now up to day 15, so it would not be a concern, but because of this new variant, we are just being ultra cautious which is why we retested her when Victoria let us know that she had the new variant and we found that she is still excreting virus,” she said.“As I stress, this is very, very, very low risk, but it is not zero risk, so he we are just taking all of those precautions.”
It comes after Queensland has recorded no new virus cases as residents in Greater Brisbane woke to the first morning of its three day lockdown as the state scrambles to contain a mutant strain of COVID-19.There are 21 active cases across the state, with 14,784 tests in the past 24 hours.Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the “very good news” while addressing the media on Saturday morning. FAMILY HIT WITH MUTANT COVID STRAINA family-of-four in NSW hotel quarantine have tested positive to the worrying South African mutation of COVID-19, NSW Health has revealed.Like the UK strain, which is believed to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than earlier version of the virus, the South African strain is passed on at an alarming rate.Since November 30, NSW has also detected six cases of the UK strain of coronavirus.
NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant said that the “possible” South African mutation virus cases in the family were detected on Thursday night.“Preliminary tests arriving last night, identified a group of four travellers in the Special Health Accomodation, who are positive for the new COVID variant identified in South Africa,” Dr Chant told media on Friday.“Further testing is under way to confirm these results, but as a precaution the 16 people who were accompanying that flight (those four people were on), have, as a precaution, moved to the Special Health Accomodation. “That is because there are concerns that this South African strain does share a similar mutation from the UK, but may be associated with increased transmissibility.”Special Health Accommodation is for people in police-managed hotel quarantine who test positive for COVID-19 and may require extra medical attention.“That is why we are taking a very cautious approach there,” Dr Chant said.Dr Chant said NSW had detected six cases of the UK strain since November 30 and two remained in the special accommodation while the other four were no longer deemed infectious.She said two of those remained in the Special Health Accomodation.“(These cases) will be cleared when they are assessed to be no longer infectious,” Dr Chant said.
NED-2974-UKs-Mutant-Covid-Strain
VICTORIA SHUTS BORDER TO BRISBANEVictoria has joined the WA government in closing its border to travellers from the Greater Brisbane area.Anyone who has been there on or after January 2 cannot enter Victoria without an exemption, the Department of Health and Human services announced just before midnight on Friday.The new Greater Brisbane “red zone” included the Brisbane City Council, Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Logan City Council areas.People who have already arrived in Victoria from the area need to get tested and isolate until at least 6pm Monday.The State Government also advised Victorians to reconsider any planned travel to Queensland.A statement issued earlier on Friday said anyone who was in the Greater Brisbane region should stay put and follow the advice of Queensland health officials.“Anyone who has been in, visited or travelled through the local government areas of Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Redland, Ipswich or Logan City councils since January 2 should not leave those areas until at least Monday,” the statement issued at 3:32pm said.
NED-2826-Australias-Vaccine-Rollout
NO NEW COVID CASES IN VICTORIA, ONE IN NSWVictoria has recorded zero new locally acquired cases of coronavirus on Saturday as more than 28,00 people were tested in the past 24 hours.The Department of Health and Human Services also revealed one new infection in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.There are 40 active cases of COVID-19 across the state. There were 28,337 tests undertaken in the past 24 hours.
The health department revealed on Thursday the mystery case announced on Wednesday had been genomically linked to the northern beaches outbreak.But the source of acquisition for the case remains unknown and under investigation.The number of active cases linked to the Black Rock Thai restaurant cluster remains at 27.The number of people in isolation in Victoria because they are either positive cases or primary close contacts of cases stands at 2460.There are now more than 200 testing centres in operation in Victoria, including a new testing site near gate one at the MCG.Almost 180,000 tests have been taken in Victoria since the start of the year.
Meantime, NSW has recorded one new local coronavirus cases, the NSW Premier has announced.Speaking at a press conference on Saturday after returning from a week of leave, Gladys Berejiklian said the case came after 25,646 tests.The one new case is linked to the Berala cluster and is a close contact of a previously reported case.It takes the Berala cluster to 21 cases.The state has also recorded five cases in returning international travellers in hotel quarantine.It comes as the upper section of the Northern Beaches is due to finish its three-week lockdown after residents could only leave home for essential reasons.“I also wanted to especially thank the northern beaches community, especially those in the northern zone for their absolute patience during the necessary action we took to lockdown or at least have stay-at-home provisions for the northern zone,” the Premier said.“For the northern zone, today will be the last day you are required for those provisions.”PLAN TO STOP UK MUTANT STRAIN SPREADPrime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled new flight rules to curb the spread of a highly contagious new strain of the coronavirus, as he backed the Brisbane lockdown and urged affected residents to stay where they are.At a national cabinet meeting on Friday, leaders agreed to pre-flight coronavirus testing for people travelling to Australia (bar green zone countries, currently NZ), while the number of international arrivals in NSW, Western Australia and Queensland will be halved until February 15. The measures were given the green light by national cabinet on Friday in a bid to combat the spread of a highly contagious COVID strain that has wreaked havoc in the UK. Scott Morrison warned it was a “false hope” the strain could be contained in Britain.The Prime Minister welcomed Queensland’s decision to place Brisbane under a three-day lockdown after a case of the strain was confirmed in the city. “I know they will be some in Brisbane today asking why is this necessary? There is only one case. Well, this isn’t any ordinary case. This is a very special case and one that requires us to treat things quite differently until we know more,” he said. “We need to give our contact tracers a head start to ensure that they can track down and run down all of the contacts from this individual.
“In Brisbane, we’re dealing with a different situation. There are many unknowns and uncertainties in relation to the new strain, and so that’s why this precautionary approach, we believe, is very sensible.”Mr Morrison said the measure had the support of the federal government, the chief medical officer, and all state and territory leaders.He urged all Brisbane residents to comply with the measures to avoid a rapid spread.“Don’t go home to another state or any other part of your state. Over the next few days, stay where you are. If you’re somewhere else and you are planning to go there, don’t,” he said.“This is something we can’t allow to get ahead of us … I believe this is a proportionate response to the very real risk.”Passengers on Commonwealth charter flights are already required to take a pre-flight COVID-19 test. However, all travellers to Australia must now return a negative test result prior to departure.Mr Morrison said there would be exemptions for people in extenuating circumstances as well as seasonal workers from “amber-risk” countries where testing is limited. Chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the precautions were necessary, with overseas arrivals the biggest virus risk facing Australia.
“It‘s a dangerous world out there. It’s become clearer now that particular strain is more transmissible … That’s the issue,” Professor Kelly said. “This is a moment for Australia to take notice, and as we did about a year ago, some of these drastic actions may seem like we‘re changing things rapidly.“There’s a reason for that, there’s science behind it. It’s about keeping Australians safe.”Mask wearing will also become mandatory in all domestic airports within Australia over the next week, but children and people with exemptions will not be required to wear them on domestic flights.
Passengers should wear masks while in international airports overseas, and international aircrew must undergo a COVID-19 test in Australia every seven days or on arrival.National cabinet will not be increasing the number of international repatriation flights coming into Australia. Leaders also agreed on a new testing standard for quarantine workers, including those involved in transporting guests. Under the changes, testing will now be conducted daily instead of every seven days. Leaders also agreed that they would now meet every fortnight, or more often, if required. Mr Morrison said the government’s plan to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine in late February, earlier than initially scheduled, had been well received by national cabinet.He refused to commit to extending support such as JobKeeper beyond March despite the Brisbane lockdown.BRISBANE PLUNGED INTO LOCKDOWN On Friday, Brisbane entered a three day lockdown in a bid to contain a potential outbreak of a mutant strain of COVID-19. Residents in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas were affected.Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was taking the drastic measure to prevent further spread of the highly contagious strain.Residents of Greater Brisbane will only be allowed to leave their home for four reasons, and will have to wear a mask when they are outside their home. “We are doing this to make sure we are keeping Queenslanders safe,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “These are tough, strong measures but this strain is incredibly infectious … I am declaring Greater Brisbane a hotspot, and I am also asking my colleagues to declare us a hotspot until we get through this together.For the next three days, funerals will be limited to 20 people, weddings to 10, and authorities have urged people not to go to non-essential businesses, including gyms. Greater Brisbane residents will be allowed to leave their homes for essential work, to shop for essentials, to provide essential care, and for exercise.
It comes after a quarantine hotel worker who tested positive to COVID-19 has been confirmed to have the more contagious UK strain.The female worker, who is a cleaner aged in her 20s and lives in the suburb of Algester in Brisbane, tested positive to the virus on Wednesday night, the Courier MailreportsShe works at the Hotel Grand Chancellor at Spring Hill and had done a shift on January 2.Authorities have since rushed to contact-trace after she was out in the community while infected for four days.
NED-1859 State of our borders
NSWVisitors or residents of NSW who have been to Brisbane will be made to self-isolate, officials have announced. The move came after Queensland announced a three-day lockdown of Brisbane, which will begin at 6pm Friday. NSW will make anyone who has been in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, and Redlands from January 2 self-isolate.
Northern Beaches area still in lockdown till January 9:
*You may only be away from your home if you have a reasonable excuse.*You may leave your home for exercise or outdoor recreation, but only within the northern area of the Northern Beaches.*You may only leave this area for essential reasons, including to buy food or access goods or services that are not available in the northern area of the Northern Beaches.*Up to 5 people, including children, may gather outdoors in a public place for exercise or recreational activity (including boating), but everyone must be a northern area resident.
Outdoor recreation activities
If you are living or staying in the northern area of the Northern Beaches, you may leave your home for outdoor recreation activities.Outdoor recreation includes activity that supports mental, physical or emotional wellbeing such as*picnics and taking children to outdoor public playgrounds*golf, tennis*water-based activities (swimming, boating, jet-skiing, fishing, paddle boarding).In the northern area, no more than 5 northern area residents can participate.
FACE MASKS
A $200 on the spot fine will apply if you do not comply with the requirements to wear a face mask.Children aged 12 and under are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable.Places where face masks must be wornYou must wear a face mask indoors when you enter or work at*retail or business premises that provides goods or services to the public including*supermarkets*shopping centres*banks*post offices*hairdressers.*residential aged care facilities (visitors, not residents).Premises that are used for the purpose of providing health services are not retail premises or business premises.Face masks are also mandatory when you are using public transport or are a passenger in a taxi or rideshare vehicle when you are waiting at a public transport waiting area (such as a bus stop, train platform or taxi rank) for all staff in hospitality venues and casinos for patrons using gaming services.SOUTH AUSTRALIAFrom midnight Friday January 8, anyone coming into SA from greater Brisbane will be required to quarantine for 14 days.SA Premier Steven Marshall announced a hard border closure to NSW on January 1.He said there will be few exemptions for those returning after 12.01am on Friday, but SA residents, people permanently moving states and essential travellers will be permitted.All those groups will still need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers returning to the state will need to demonstrate they met the criteria upon crossing the border.He said people travelling from Queensland to South Australia must follow the most direct route through NSW and not spend “unnecessary time” interstate.
Mr Marshall said a 100km buffer zone will be implemented for cross-border communities, allowing people in Broken Hill and Wentworth to freely enter the state.“We’re also going to be putting some transit allowances because there are people travelling through NSW who won’t be stopping,” Mr Marshall said.Mr Marshall said border arrangements with Victoria would not change.VICTORIAVictoria’s border with NSW is now shut. Any Victorian arriving from NSW before the deadline needed to get tested and quarantine for 14 days, the state government said.
On Wednesday, Victoria announced anyone who has been in the NSW regions of the Blue Mountains and Wollongong since Sunday had to return by 11.59pm on December 31.The border was already closed to those in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast.Victoria has also closed its borders to travellers from the Greater Brisbane area.
NORTHERN TERRITORYThe NT declared Greater Metropolitan Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot from midnight on New Year’s Eve, meaning anyone travelling from there must enter quarantine.The NT had previously declared only seven Sydney suburbs hot spots.
QUEENSLANDGreater Brisbane will enter a three day lockdown.Queensland, which had already declared Greater Sydney a hotspot, is assessing the situation as it unfolds.Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said on Thursday she was closely monitoring the New South Wales cluster and the new Victorian cases.“I’m urging Queenslanders travelling to these states to reassess their plans – if it is not necessary, then consider staying here,” she said.“The next 24 hours are critical for Victoria and the NSW cluster is growing daily. Queensland is in a good position right now because we acted quickly to declare greater Sydney a hotspot.”
WESTERN AUSTRALIAWestern Australia has introduced a hard border with Queensland, which will take effect from midnight on Friday, January 8.Western Australia has already shut its border to NSW travellers but on Thursday said it will close to Victorian travellers too.From 12.01am on January 1, only exempt Victorian travellers will be allowed into WA, while returning residents must self-isolate for two weeks.Anyone who arrived in WA from Victoria on or after December 21 must also self-quarantine for 14 days.TASMANIATasmania has declared nine Victorian sites as high-risk COVID-19 areas including restaurants, clubs, churches, shopping centres, hotels, and bars.People in Tasmania who have visited are asked to self-isolate and contact the public health line on 1800 671 738.Non-Tasmanians who have been in the areas in the specified times cannot enter Tasmania without an exemption.It has measures in place requiring travellers from Greater Sydney to quarantine.More details on travel alerts here.AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYNon-ACT residents are banned from entering the territory if they have travelled from hotspots, unless granted an exemption. That means all non-residents who have been in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast or Wollongong local government areas will be refused entry at the border.ACT residents have to sign an online declaration form before returning then quarantine for 14 days.
– with NCA NewsWire
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