General News
8 August, 2021
Cairns to go into lockdown
A positive COVID case identified in Cairns will force a three-day lock down for the city.
RELATED: Contact tracing commences in Cairns
At a media conference in Brisbane this morning the Premier said, “We need more testing in Cairns.
“I am very, very concerned with what’s happening in Cairns.”
A unvaccinated taxi driver in his 60s, tested positive on Friday afternoon and has been infectious in the community for the past 10 days.
“We need the residents of Cairns to come forward if they have any symptoms and get tested.
From 4pm today Cairns and Yarrabah will enter a three-day lockdown.
The Premier called for more testing in Cairns to beat this latest outbreak.
A business support package is also being considered for the region.
“Stay at home, minimise your movements, test, test and test,” she said
Queensland’s Chief Health Minister, Dr Jeanette Young stated the virus may already be transmitting through the Cairns community.
RELATED: Cairns Regional Council COVID Update
Extra testing is now available in Cairns.
The Hospital Cairns Fever Clinic is open until 10pm tonight, (Sunday)
Portsmith Testing Centre is open today, one lane in currently open now, increasing to two lanes later today. (Bookings are required)
Yarrabah Hospital Fever Clinic is in the process of being activated, along with additional support for Yarrabah testing.
Regionally, Atherton, Innisfail, Mareeba and Mossman will be activated for testing
Private pop-up testing clinics are considered for Woree and Cairns Esplanade.
Masks are mandatory when outside of your home, including teachers and secondary students.
A maximum of 2 visitors to the home
Hospitality restricted only to takeaway
No professional or community sport is permitted
UPDATED: 11:55am Sun Aug 8
The unvaccinated taxi driver was infectious between Saturday July 31 through to Wednesday August 4, ferrying between 20 and 30 passengers each day. He has also attended Brothers Leagues Club during that period. Contact tracing is under way with a focus upon passengers as well as patrons who attended Brothers Leagues Club in Cairns.
It is unknown if the driver has tested positive for the Delta variant.
Members of his household are unwell presently, Queensland Health are in the process of testing members of his household.
The source of his his infection is as yet unknown.
Yarrabah is in lockdown due to its proximity to Cairns, a lockdown is not being considered as yet for the communities in the Cape,
The lockdown is covering the LGA areas of Cairns Regional Council as well as Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council.
Schools will be close from tomorrow in Cairns and Yarrabah and only open to essential workers and vulnerable children.
RELATED: Plasma donation - an essential service in Cairns
Members of the Cairns community are urged to check the Queensland Health website for exposure sites, as yet the website has not been updated with the latest Cairns sites.
