New mask rules extended to Gold Coast after two COVID-positive cases were active in the community

Stricter mask rules implemented yesterday in Brisbane and Moreton Bay have been extended to the Gold Coast after two new COVID-positive cases were active in the community, meaning it is now mandatory to wear a mask when inside a venue.

Authorities are calling for increased testing and vaccinations on the Gold Coast - as well as in Queensland more broadly as vaccination rates are lagging behind the rest of the country - with Health Minister Yvette D'Ath emphasising "the virus is on our doorstep".

Queensland Health has formally only reported one new community case, a man in his 50s who lives in Biggera Waters who has received two doses of the vaccine and is linked to the aviation training worker disclosed yesterday, with the other new case registered in New South Wales - a truck driver residing in Gaven who regularly travels between the Gold Coast and Sydney.

More contact tracing locations are due to be published in relation to both individuals, with Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young noting they have been active in the community.

"Anyone in the Gold Coast or anyone who's been in the Gold Coast in the last week, please go and check that website," Dr Young said.

Dr Young said the Gaven man was active in the community for three days on the Gold Coast, specifically Mermaid Waters, Merrimac, Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Palm Beach and Currumbin.

She said all of the new cases reported this week are from new clusters.

"I got back the whole genome sequencing results last night for two cases from yesterday...both of them are Delta and neither of them have clustered with any case in Queensland; they're clustered with cases in New South Wales and indeed, with the United States," she said.

"That fits with that aviation worker who works in that facility that we know international pilots use.

"We have these brand new outbreaks happening every day."

Since yesterday's reporting, Queensland Health has published several new exposure sites in South Brisbane, Spring Hill and Albany Creek, including a cafe, a Woolworths, a pharmacy, a Domino's and two McDonald's restaurants.

Updated at 10:33am AEST on 29 September 2021.

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