New COVID case on the Sunshine Coast after woman travelled from Melbourne

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has confirmed a new COVID-19 case on the Sunshine Coast after a 44-year-old drove with her partner from Melbourne and yesterday got tested for the virus.

The Queensland Government held a press conference this afternoon after the test came up positive today, confirming the individual had travelled through NSW, and visited the Goondiwindi McDonald's and a Caltex in Toowoomba on the morning of 5 June on her way to Caloundra.

In Queensland itself the individual visited these listed venues on the days that followed:

• Sunnys @ Moffatt, Caloundra - 2:45-3pm (6 June)
• Coffee Cat on Kings Beach - 3:30-4:30pm (6 June)
• Stockland Shopping Centre, Caloundra (specifically The Coffee Club and Kmart) - 10:45-11:30am (7 June)
• Bunnings Caloundra - 12:10-12:45pm (7 June)
• Kawana Shoppingworld (Foodcourt and female toilets near JB Hi-Fi) - 1-2pm (7 June)
• Female toilets near IGA Baringa - 3:50-4:10pm (8 June)

"These are only initial sites. We will be getting more sites as we talk to the lady and her family," says Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young.

"We'll be putting those up on the website. It's very, very important that people please check them.

"I know that people in the Sunshine Coast have always been fantastic at getting tested. We've always seen large numbers come out - there are more places that you can be tested and hours are extending, so please come forward and get tested."

The woman left Melbourne on 1 June, and this evening NSW Health has confirmed that between that date and her arrival in QLD she stopped at places in Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo and Moree, signing in to several venues using QR codes.

This evening NSW Health published a list of venues she visited over that five-day period. These include Caltex Narrandera in Gillenbah and the Vandenberg Hotel in Forbes on 1 June; the Brew Coffee Bar in Forbes and several locations in Dubbo over 2-3 June including CSC - Church Street Cafe, Reading Cinemas Dubbo and the Homestead Motel; and a few locations in Moree between 3-5 June including Gwydir Carpark/Motel & Thermal Pools, Cafe Omega and the Amaroo Tavern.

Earlier today the state's authorities also advised Woolworths Moree and the Shell Petrol Station in Dubbo were potential exposure sites. 

"Anyone who lives in or has visited these areas since 1 June, is asked to be especially vigilant for the onset of even the mildest of cold-like symptoms, and is urged to come forward for testing immediately if they appear, then isolate until a negative result is received," NSW Health reported.

"NSW Health will be providing pop-up clinics and extended hours at existing clinics to support increased testing for the communities in these areas."

Dr Young believes the person may have been infectious since 1 June because she displayed symptoms on 3 June.

"I'm waiting for serology results to see how long she's had this infection," Dr Young said.

"She may have been infectious while travelling through NSW, so I am working with my colleagues in NSW to work through that."

In other news, Queensland authorities have responded to changes announced today for easing restrictions in Victoria, opting to open the border to travellers coming from regional Victoria from 1am this Friday, 11 June.

"But those in the Greater Melbourne area, which will be 31 local government authorities, will still require an exemption to be able to travel to Queensland if they're a non-resident, and if they are a resident they will be required to go into hotel quarantine," Minister D'Ath said.

Originally published at 4:11pm AEST on 9 June 2021, updated at 8:20pm AEST.