After an unvaccinated Covid hospital ward receptionist was confirmed to be contagious and out in the community, parts of the Australian state of Queensland will go under lockdown for three days starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday (local time) in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19.
South East Queensland, Townsville City, Palm Island, and Magnetic Island are among the places under lockdown.
The announcement comes after Queensland revealed two new locally acquired coronavirus cases, one of which was a 19-year-old medical worker, as well as two patients in quarantine at a motel.
Because of the fast-changing scenario, Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed she had no choice but to enforce the lockdown.
"The threat is serious, and we must respond immediately," stated the prime minister.
"We have to push ourselves hard and fast."
A miner from Ipswich is the other positive locally acquired case, one of 170 FIFO employees from the NT gold mine, where a positive case was discovered after hundreds of miners scattered across Australia.
A clerical worker at a hospital test positive.
The woman who tested positive overnight is a 19-year-old casual clerical worker from Brisbane's north, Prince Charles Hospital.
Outside of the Covid ward, she works as a receptionist.
Last Monday, the young woman got symptoms after visiting various sites while infected.
This means the woman was contagious and in the community for ten days, including flights in and out of Brisbane and Townsville airports, as well as a visit to Magnetic Island.
All of Magentic Island's 2500 residents have been advised to get tested.
Despite health warnings, the young woman was not immunized, according to the premier. Two of her relatives have developed symptoms of illness and have been tested for the virus.
Palaszczuk stated, "Let me say, I am really outraged about this."
"We need to make sure that we are vaccinating our whole population across the state."
Palaszczuk acknowledged that a complete investigation into why she was not vaccinated would be launched.
The premier stated that hospital employees working inside the ward had to be vaccinated, but it was unclear whether the woman's role was covered in the standards.
"There will be a comprehensive investigation into why she wasn't immunized for some reason."
The woman traveled with her family from Sandgate to Townsville's Magnetic Island at the end of last week.
She went to the Townsville Sunday markets while on the road.
Concerns about FIFO employees, as well as five Virgin planes
The other 170 FIFO employees from the NT gold mine remained a Delta variant risk, according to Australia's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young.
According to Young, the Tanami mineworkers have been placed in isolation across Queensland and are being tested for the virus.
She stated, "That is a continuous risk for Queensland."
According to Young, a Virgin flight crew member who worked on two planes that landed in Queensland also had the Delta variant.
Young, on the other hand, expressed concern about "all five of those flights," claiming that Queenslanders may have been on the non-Queensland aircraft.
"We've got a lot of different groups with slightly different risk profiles, and we're trying to manage and balance all of them, and that's what makes it so challenging."
Sites visited by a Queensland hospital worker who was infected
Magnetic Island is estimated to have a population of 2500 people, according to Queensland Health.
Everyone has been encouraged to get tested.
There are just four reasons to leave your house.
There are just four reasons why Queenslanders in the zones that will be locked down from Tuesday night will be able to leave their homes.
1. Required schooling and work that cannot be completed at home, as well as health-care services, such as vaccinations.
2. Providing care or support to a family member who is vulnerable
3. Essential shopping in your neighborhood
4. Exercising in your local neighborhood with no more than one individual who is not from your household.
