Queensland 'very concerned' by new local case

Queensland health authorities are seriously concerned after a positive COVID-19 case spent several days in the community while multiple infectious crew members from a Philippines bulk vessel are being moved into quarantine in Brisbane.

The one new local case is a West Australian man who flew to Brisbane from the Philippines and was placed in hotel quarantine.

He tested negative during his quarantine stay and was released on July 17.

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But the man was staying at a backpacker hotel on Roma Street in Brisbane when he became unwell on July 27.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the man tested positive for coronavirus and has been infectious since July 22.

There were another 19 cases recorded in a crew onboard the Sanyu bulk shipping vessel anchored off the Queensland coast.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the bulk carrier vessel came into Torres Strait waters on Monday, when Queensland authorities were informed several of the 21 crew on board were sick.

She said Queensland Health is working with maritime services to get the ship to Weipa, in Far North Queensland.

From there, those of the crew who are extremely unwell will be transferred to a COVID-19 facility in Brisbane.

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"We are organising the best possible response to keep the crew on this ship safe, to keep the ship safe and to keep the people of Queensland safe," Dr Young said.

"The ship came originally from the Philippines and all of the crew, I understand, are from the Philippines."

Dr Young said the genome sequencing is still being looked at to determine what strain the crew are infected with.

She said authorities were extremely concerned with the case of the returned traveller who left hotel quarantine then returned a positive test.

"This is the 13th incursion of the virus into the community in Queensland over the last six weeks," she said.

"So it is becoming increasingly concerning we are having these repeated incursions of the virus," she said.

"It's really, really important, please, anyone in Queensland, any symptoms at all to come forward and get tested.

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"Second thing, masks are critical. We know they make a difference and I'm sure they've played a role in why we have not had widespread community transmission from any of these 13 incursions of the virus. So that's really, really important.

"But most importantly of all, if you are sick, please stay home and immediately get tested."