Parts of Queensland will enter a three-day lockdown from 6pm today in a bid to stamp out the spread of COVID-19, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced.
The areas under lockdown include South East Queensland, Townsville city, Palm Island and Magnetic Island.
The news comes after Queensland reported two new locally acquired coronavirus cases, and two in hotel quarantine.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had been left with no choice but to impose the lockdown because of the fast-moving situation.
"The risk is real and we need to act quickly," the premier said.
"We need to go hard and we need to go fast."
https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1409689394798157827?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwOne of the positive cases is a miner from Ipswich, one of the 170 FIFO workers from the NT.
The other case affects regional Queensland south-east Queensland.
Hospital clerical worker tests positive
The woman who tested positive overnight is a 19-year-old casual clerical worker from Prince Charles Hospital.
She works as a receptionist outside the COVID ward.
The young woman visited multiple sites while infectious and developed symptoms last Monday.
This means the woman would have been infectious and in the community for 10 days since last Saturday.
The young woman was not vaccinated despite the health directives, the premier said.
"Let me say, I am absolutely furious about this," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We need to make sure that we are getting our population vaccinated, right across the state."
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed a full investigation would be launched into the reason why she was not vaccinated.
The premier confirmed hospital staff who worked inside the ward had to be vaccinated, but it was unclear if the guidelines included the woman and her role.
"For some reason she wasn't vaccinated, there will be a full investigation into that."
The woman travelled with her family between her home in Sandgate to Magnetic Island in Townsville at the end of last week.
While on the road, she attended the Sunday markets in Townsville.
Sites visited by infected hospital worker
- Sandgate Woolworths - June 20
- Bay Health Gym - June 20
- Prince Charles Hospital - June 22, 23
- Flight VA369 from Brisbane to Townsville on June 24
- Brisbane Airport - June 24
- Townsville airport - June 24
- Magnetic Island from June 24 to June 27
- Flight VA374 from Townsville to Brisbane - June 27
- Brisbane Airport - June 27
- Townsville Airport - June 27
Queensland Health believes there are 2500 people on Magnetic Island.
All have been urged to get tested.
Only four reasons to leave home
For Queenslanders in the areas to be locked down from tonight, there are only four reasons you will be able to leave home.
1. Essential education and work that cannot be done at home or to obtain health care services, including getting your vaccination
2. Care or support of a vulnerable family member
3. Essential shopping in your local community
4. Exercising with no more than one person, not from your household in your local community
