Alerts have been issued for two venues in Byron Bay as a worrying coronavirus outbreak in Queensland threatens to spread interstate.
Queensland Health has advised two positive virus cases, a nurse and her sister, travelled to the beachside village across the NSW border over the weekend.
The Queenslanders attended a number of popular venues in Byron Bay before returning home.
Anyone who attended the Byron Beach Hotel on March 26 between 7.15pm and 8.30pm, or The Farm Byron Bay on March 28 from 8.00am to 9.30am should get tested immediately and self-isolate.
More than 20,000 people have been contacted by NSW Health after cases were discovered in Queensland, with nine people deemed close contacts.
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NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said anyone who has been in any affected hot spots in Brisbane since March 11 should isolate for two weeks and get tested.
Health authorities are closely monitoring northern NSW where there’s “lots of contact” between locals living and working in border towns, she said.
Anyone in Byron Bay who experiences even mild symptoms is being urged to get tested and self-isolate.
While the border has not yet been closed, non-essential travel to the Greater Brisbane area is discouraged.
Snap lockdown to spark travel chaos
Earlier on Monday, a snap lockdown was announced for Brisbane, raising concerns for nationwide travel chaos less than a week out from Easter.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered a three-day lockdown of Greater Brisbane from 5pm on Monday, after four new community cases of coronavirus were detected in 24 hours.
Two of these cases sparked the alerts in Byron Bay.
“I know this is a really big call. I know it is very tough but let’s do it now and let’s do it right,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Ms Palaszczuk later took to Twitter to remind Queenslanders not to strip supermarket shelves in panic over the lockdown.
“Please don’t rush out and panic buy. The supermarkets are full of supplies and will operate as per usual. Groceries and essentials will still be available while we’re in lockdown,” she wrote.
Tweet from @AnnastaciaMP
Anyone who has been in Brisbane since March 20 has been told to abide by the lockdown, with masks mandatory across the state.
Other states and territories are expected to impose quarantine requirements on travellers from Brisbane.
The lockdown will cause major headaches for families planning to visit Brisbane over Easter, as well as the many thousands of hospitality and tourism companies who rely on their business.
Vaccination acceptable reason to leave home
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed getting a COVID jab is an acceptable reason to leave home during Brisbane’s tough snap lockdown.
Mr Hunt said he has discussed the decision with Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and they have agreed.
“Importantly the message that Queensland has given is one I would emphasise as well, vaccinations are considered a critical reason to leave home. We would encourage all patients, subject to checking with their doctors, to continue with their vaccination programme,” Mr Hunt said.
Vaccine rolls out for Papua New Guinea
Meanwhile, coronavirus vaccinations are underway in Papua New Guinea as doctors warn of surging case numbers.
A small team of Australian medical professions have been dispatched to PNG as soaring infection rates push the country’s health system to the brink.
A field hospital designed to deal with mild and moderate cases is being forced to deal with far more serious cases because of a shortage of beds elsewhere.
An additional field hospital was set to open on Monday.
Gary Nou is working on the frontline in PNG and said more medical staff are needed.
“We are in a perpetual state of disaster,” Dr Nou told ABC radio.
Australia has provided 8000 doses of vaccines for frontline workers in PNG, but there are concerns about future supplies.
More than 507,000 Australians have now received their first coronavirus vaccine injections.
State and territory vaccination clinics have administered most of the doses (329,000) while general practitioners have given out 97,000 and another 80,000 have been delivered in aged care homes.
-with AAP
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