Dear colleagues

I’d like to update you on some important information that has come from today, including information regarding a positive case detected in Brisbane and another from regional NSW. Please take some time to read the below as it may apply to you.

Positive case in Brisbane

Today Queensland Health has identified a positive case in a quarantine hotel employee. The patient was unknowingly infectious from 2 January 2021 and tested positive for COVID-19 on 6 January 2021.

Early information on the patient’s movements is available below. If you have been to these locations during these time periods, regardless of whether you have symptoms, please get tested and isolate until you receive your results. Even if you receive a negative test, please closely monitor your health closely for the next 14 days and if you develop any symptoms, get retested.

• Saturday 2 January – 7am – Train from Altandi station to Roma street
• Saturday 2 January – 4pm – Train from Central Station to Altandi station
• Sunday 3 January – 11am -12pm – Woolworths, Calamvale North
• Tuesday 5 January – 7.30am – 8am – Coles, Sunnybank Hills
• Tuesday 5 January – 8am – 8.15am – Nextra Newsagent Sunnybank Hills Shopping Town

Further contact tracing details will be released to the public as it becomes available.

Positive case in regional NSW

Queenslanders who visited the regional New South Wales towns of Orange, Nyngan and Broken Hill between 2 and 3 January are being asked to get tested for COVID-19. This comes after a positive COVID-19 case from NSW transited through the towns while infectious.

With concerns that holidaying Queenslanders may have come into contact with this positive case, I reiterate that anyone who has been to these towns gets tested immediately. It’s critical we detect any more cases before the virus spreads into our communities.

Where to get tested

To access a full list of COVID-19 testing locations, with interactive map and postcode search, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing.

Travel plans

With the above in mind, please rethink any upcoming travel you might have into these affected areas. Do not travel into a hotspot unless essential and rethink any plans that might mean you have difficulty coming home. This is particularly relevant to travel into New South Wales. I myself have cancelled plans to visit south NSW over Australia Day period.

First green flight from New Zealand

It’s not all bad news, today Queensland welcomed its first quarantine-free flight from New Zealand to Brisbane! This flight carried the first international travellers into the state in nearly a year. Congratulations to everyone who was involved in the planning and implementation of this achievement!

Physical distancing

I’m bringing back the “the noodle of reminder” today to encourage everyone to be more alert and mindful when it comes to physical distancing. Where possible, please keep 1.5 m (or one pool noodle) apart from you and your colleagues to avoid the spread of any germs. If someone is standing too close, please politely ask them to stand back so that you can both conform to physical distancing requirements.

Dr Liz Rushbrook

Metro North Incident Controller

Current MN Response Tier Activated – Tier 0

Metro North HHS – overview of Cases*

*With effect 07 January 2021, 1100
**Metro North has three recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.