Visiting rules removed as Brisbane COVID cases successfully managed

Restrictions at hospitals and other high-risk facilities in Greater Brisbane have been eased from midday today (Friday 19 March) thanks to the excellent public response to the three cases at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Hotel Grand Chancellor.

From midday today, hospital patients, aged care and disability accommodation residents, and correctional facilities in the Greater Brisbane area can resume receiving visitors as normal.

Non-essential visits ceased in the local government areas of Brisbane City, Ipswich City, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region and Redland City last weekend after a Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor tested positive to COVID-19 last Friday.

Genomic sequencing linked the three cases confirmed at Hotel Grand Chancellor on Saturday.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said no further cases had been linked to the cluster. The investigation identified 635 possible contacts for the doctor across a range of settings in the community (490) and the hospital (145). Extensive follow-up and testing has so far not identified any community transmission. It has now been 7 days since the last known community exposure.

“The Chief Health Officer is satisfied the risk of there being more cases in the community is now very low,” Minister D’Ath said.

“As a result, we will lift the visitor restrictions put in place at hospitals and other high-risk facilities in the Greater Brisbane area from midday today.

“I know many patients, residents, families and staff were impacted by these restrictions over the past week and I thank them for their patience and cooperation. These measures were put in in place to protect our most vulnerable.

“We moved quickly to conduct contact tracing to contain this cluster and the support from the public was exceptional – when people were asked to get tested or stay home, they did.

“I also want to thank Queenslanders for continuing to leave their contact details at venues – it has been instrumental in the response to this situation.”

There are still circumstances under which people cannot visit high-risk facilities across Queensland. More information is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions

Queensland Health also stated that no breach has been identified as part of a review into the two cases from the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster.

“The circumstances regarding the transmission at the Hotel Grand Chancellor have been reviewed, including trawling through CCTV footage,” Minister D’Ath said. “No breach has been identified and we thank the Hotel Grand Chancellor for their support during this period.”

Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms should get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008