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Saturday, March 27, 2021

Queensland reports third local coronavirus case as authorities backtrack on 'house party' claim - SBS News

A third local case of COVID-19 has been reported in the last 24 hours. 

The state's chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said the new case is the brother of the first case,  a 26-year-old landscaper who tested positive on Thursday.

"He is probably the person responsible for the transmission. Of course, he could have had that in the past, but it is more likely he has had it recently."

She said genomic testing could not be done because he is no longer infectious and has no viral symptoms. 

"We'll be talking [to this latest third confirmed case] to work out his contacts but remember he was infectious a little while ago," Dr Young said.

Queensland Police said it is no longer the case that a house party of 25 people was held by the second confirmed case of coronavirus - a close contact of a 26-year-old man who has the UK variant of COVID-19. 

Police said no COVID-19 regulations were breached, but the individual did have five guests over at his residence. 

"Our evidence is that there was no offence committed, but we are still considering it," Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

Police said the five people have been identified - a number of them were housemates. 

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has defended the release of information that a close contact of a confirmed case of the UK variant held a house party with 25 people while waiting for test results. 

"We did put out the information that we believe was factual at the time so the public were aware."

"It is extremely unfortunate that what has been discovered over the past 24 hours, that it was not 25 people. As I understand it, this is the information that was received from this gentleman himself."

She urged people to provide accurate and clear information to contact tracers. 

"I am very pleased that the information has shown that we don't have 25 people out there in the community potentially at risk.

"That the numbers are far lower and it is contained to predominately the housemates - that is a good outcome."

All five people at the gathering have been ordered into quarantine and are being tested.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she supported how the state's health department handled the release of information.

"Queensland Health has always provided the most up-to-date information that they get to hand. In this case, that was the information that they got.

"Further investigations have confirmed what the reality was.

"Let's look at the history of how health has dealt with COVID. They have been first class over the last year and this unfortunately was the information that was presented to them at the time."

Health officials said negative test results have come back for 14 casual contacts. 

There are now 25 potential COVID-19 exposure sites across Brisbane.

17 March: 'No concern' about AstraZeneca vaccine

The nine exposure sites visited by the first confirmed case include Westfield Carindale, Bunnings in Stafford and Gasworks at Newstead.

Contact tracers have homed in on the Carindale Westfield and Mama's Italian restaurant in Redcliffe, where the 26-year-old spent the most time and potentially interacted with the most people.

He visited the shopping centre between 12pm and 2.16pm last Saturday and the restaurant between 12.30pm and 3.10pm on Sunday.

The visit by the second confirmed COVD-19 case to the Eatons Hill Hotel between 3.45pm and 5.10pm last Saturday is also a concern.

Anyone who has visited those sites is being urged to get tested and isolate until they receive their results.

The cluster has sparked a lockdown of Brisbane City and Moreton Bay council area hospitals, aged care facilities, prisons and disability services providers.

Additional reporting: AAP

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.

Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSWVictoriaQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaNorthern TerritoryACTTasmania.

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Queensland reports third local coronavirus case as authorities backtrack on 'house party' claim - SBS News
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