- Easter holiday plans have been left in disarray, after three new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland and NSW
- The new case in NSW is related to the wider Brisbane cluster after a nurse attended a Hen’s Party in Byron Bay while infectious
- The two new cases in Queensland are also linked to this known cluster, with the nurse and another health care worker both contracting COVID-19 at work
- Brisbane remains in a three-day lockdown as a result of the clusters, with speculation mounting the restrictions may be extended over Easter
- NSW residents in the northern part of the state are also subject to new restrictions, following the positive test result
Easter holiday plans have been left in disarray, after three new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland and NSW.
New restrictions have been brought in to tackle the new case in NSW, while speculation is running rife that Brisbane may have its lockdown extended.
Among the new cases, one person from Tweed Heads has tested positive for the virus after attending a Hen’s Party in Byron Bay.
A Brisbane nurse, who likely caught COVID-19 while working, was also in attendance at the party — with multiple guests and entertainers now infected.
Another person has been linked to this cluster in Queensland today, but two others who were under investigation yesterday have returned negative results.
The third case of COVID-19 recorded in the last 24 hours is also believed to be linked to another Brisbane health worker, who previously tested positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, following the confirmed case in NSW, residents living in the far north coast are being asked to wear masks over Easter and to limit group gatherings.
“Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore shires are on extra high alert. We know through this one case of community transmission that there could be others,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“Until the end of Easter, those four local government areas will be subject to some restrictions,” she added.
Queensland health authorities are refusing to rule out extending Brisbane’s lockdown beyond Thursday.
“[High testing rates] is very encouraging and we’ll be providing you with an update again tomorrow and fingered crossed, all will be looking good for Easter,” NSW Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.
“It depends on the testing rates again. So if we see very good testing rates across Queensland and we don’t see any unlinked community transmission, the signs for Easter are looking positive,” the leader added.
Many states have already closed their borders to parts of Queensland following the spike in cases and lockdowns, meaning Easter travel is already off the cards for some.
But NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is holding off on closing NSW’s borders at this stage.
“It is an evolving situation and if the health advice changes, of course, we will reconsider that. At this stage, there is absolutely no cause for us to close borders,” she explained.