Queensland has recorded one new case of coronavirus as contact tracing continues for a Townsville woman who tested positive for the virus in Melbourne.

October 15, 2020

Queensland has recorded one new COVID-19 case after a traveller returned from Africa and Papua New Guinea.

The individual had contact with 15 other people but all are in hotel isolation, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said on Thursday.

“There is no cause for great concern,” he told reporters in Townsville.

Mr Miles said he remains concerned about the increasing number of coronavirus cases being diagnosed in NSW.

“Their premier indicated they felt they may be on the cusp of another outbreak not unlike the one they saw after the Crossroads Hotel case,” he said.

There are two active COVID cases in Queensland.

Health officials completed 5280 virus tests in the 24 hours to Thursday morning.

More than 240 of those were in Townsville, where traces of COVID-19 were detected in sewage on Saturday.

Queensland Health is continuing to trace people who may have had contact with a Townsville woman before she was diagnosed with coronavirus in Victoria.

The woman in her 30s tested positive after travelling to Cairns, then Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on Wednesday said the woman visited various venues in Queensland before flying to Victoria via the ACT about a week ago.

A number of people have already been asked to quarantine for 14 days.

“The woman’s treating doctors in Queensland have also taken COVID-19 tests and are isolating until they receive their results,” Dr Young said.

“Caution is key in ensuring we catch every possible case.”

The woman left her home 11 days ago to be with family in Melbourne while receiving medical treatment.

She was diagnosed with COVID-19 three days after arriving.

A health alert has been issued for people who were in Hyde Park and Pimlico in Townsville between September 29 and October 1.

They are advised to get tested if they developed any symptoms.

People on Qantas flight QF2302 from Townsville to Cairns on October 3 and Virgin flight VA782 from Cairns to Brisbane on October 6 have also been told to monitor their health.

Samples of the woman’s virus will be compared with those found in the wastewater.