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Last week, a Melbourne woman managed to cross the two state borders into New South Wales and Queensland on a road trip away from the blockade without realizing she was infected with Covid-19.
The 44-year-old woman and her partner came from an outer suburb of Melbourne and left Victoria on June 1, four days after Victoria started the lockdown.
On June 8, she tested positive after meeting with relatives in Caloundra on the picturesque Sunshine Coast, but developed symptoms as early as June 3.
As the three states are now scrambling to track the couple’s movements, when Melbourne was declared a hot spot, the question of how they managed to leave Victoria and cross the state line was correct.
Blocked Melburnians are prohibited from leaving their homes for 5 kilometers, and Victorians are prohibited from entering New South Wales unless they live in border communities.
related: Queensland has recorded 1 new case of coronavirus
Queensland declared the entire state of Victoria as a hot spot on May 28, which means that anyone who has been to Victoria within 14 days of attempting to enter Queensland will face a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.
The Queensland Health website outlines the only reason for entering Queensland from a hot spot: the “basic purpose”. But the authorities did not mention the exemption when speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t know the details or why they left,” said Dr Janet Young, Queensland’s chief health officer.
“Of course, we will investigate how this happened.”
The couple chose a route through a remote area of New South Wales, stopping at Gillumba, Forbes, Dubbo, and Murray, before crossing the border into Gundi Wendy, Queensland, a suburb on the McIntyre , 350 kilometers southwest of Brisbane.
according to Express mailOne theory about the couple’s route is that they chose to cross the border at Goondiwindi because the focus of police patrols is on the border of the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Superintendent Rhys Wildman stated that police conduct up to 100 random interceptions a day.
“If you try to enter Queensland illegally through the Gold Coast, you are likely to be identified and intercepted,” he said.
The newspaper reported that the police did not consider reinstalling border checkpoints after the Melbourne outbreak led to a blockade.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski was asked at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon whether the two had “lied on her declaration form.”
He will not be attracted by this question, he said that the priority is to follow the couple’s movements.
Their trip in New South Wales includes many stops, starting from Caltex Narrandera on June 1. Later that day, they stopped at the Vandenberg Hotel in Forbes and the Brew Coffee Bar, also in Forbes, on June 2.
They visited the Church Street Cafe, Reading Cinema, Dubbo’s Homestead Hotel and Shell Gas Station on June 2nd, and visited the Homestead Hotel for the second time on June 3.
In Moree, the couple stopped at Woolworths on June 3, and at Gwydir Carpark Motel & Thermal Pools on June 3, June 4 and 5, and on June 4 and 5. Went to Cafe Omego in Moree.
Queensland authorities have identified six close contacts during their stay in the state.
Exposure locations include Goondiwindi McDonalds on June 5th, Sunny’s cafe at Moffat Beach and Coffee Cat at Kings Beach on June 6th, and Stockland Shopping Center and Bunnings Warehouse in Caloundra on June 7th.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the woman and her partner entered Queensland on June 5, passing through Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
“This woman was tested yesterday and it was confirmed today that this is a positive case,” Ms. Das said.
Dr. Young said that for Queenslanders who have experienced uncertainty for more than a year, this news has many issues to deal with.
She said: “For 18 months, the community now has to endure so much, but to do so again, regardless of the cause, a new coronary pneumonia case in any community will make many people feel frustrated.”
She urged anyone with mild symptoms to be tested for Covid-19.
“Anyone who has been to the exposed sites listed on our website must come forward and be tested,” she said.
“Anyone with symptoms-no matter how mild-needs to be tested as soon as possible.
“Get tested and stay home until you get the results, because the mildest symptom may be COVID-19.
“Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue or loss of smell and/or taste.”
The Melbourne woman is managed by staff from Sunshine Coast University Hospital, and her partner is also being monitored in the hospital to prevent him from developing symptoms.
The 14-day lockdown in Victoria will end at midnight on Thursday, but there are still some restrictions, including a ban on travel 25 kilometers away from home, except for basic care, work or vaccinations.
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