UPDATE:

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Queensland Health has expanded a contact tracing location list for a Townsville woman who tested positive for COVID-19 in Melbourne, several days after travelling through Cairns. 

While risk to staff and patrons is considered low, anyone who has been to these venues at these dates and times should monitor their health and if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms, even mild, get tested and isolate until they receive their test result. 

• Townsville, Hyde Park - Icon Cancer Centre Townsville - 30 September - from 9.00am to 9.30am.
• Cairns - Tha Fish - 3 October - from 5.45pm to 8.30pm
• Palm Cove - Vivo Palm Cove - 5 October - from 5.15pm to 9:00pm
• Brisbane CBD - Georges Paragon Restaurant - 6 October from 7.30pm
• Townsville - Hyde Park - Icon Cancer Centre Townsville - 28 September 4-5pm.
• Townsville - Mater Day Surgery Hyde Park - 29 September
• Townsville - NQ Vascular Pimlico - 30 September 1-2pm
• Townsville - Mater Day Surgery Hyde Park - 1 October
• Flight QF2302 Townsville to Cairns - 3 October
• Flight VA 782 Cairns to Brisbane - 6 October

EARLIER:

Queensland Health has issued a health alert after a COVID-19 case was detected in a woman who had visited Cairns before travelling to Melbourne where she tested positive to the virus.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said he had been advised by Victorian Health authorities that a Townsville resident in her 30’s, who had also visited Cairns and Brisbane before travelling to Melbourne, had tested positive.

The woman left Queensland on 7 October to be with family while receiving medical treatment in Melbourne, where she had been for three days prior to the positive result. COVID-19 tests were a required element of the medical care she was due to receive.

Mr Miles said it is most likely she contracted the virus in Victoria.

“It’s most likely she contracted it in Melbourne; she was in Melbourne several days before getting tested, however, the way we’ve been so successful has been by being ultra, ultra-cautious,” Mr Miles said.

“That’s why, to be ultra-cautious, we are treating this as though she could have been infectious when she was in Townsville, Cairns and in Brisbane.”

Mr Miles said contact tracing is underway for anyone who may have had contact with the women and a number of known close contacts have been told to isolate and get tested.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said while the woman may have contracted COVID-19 in Melbourne, it was necessary to treat the case with an abundance of caution.

“That’s why we are releasing the below locations as part of a Public Health Alert,” she said.

The woman had been in venues in Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane before travelling to Melbourne. She was on a flight from Townsville to Cairns and from Cairns to Brisbane. Then travelled to Melbourne via Canberra.

Health alert issued for:

• 28 September 4-5pm Icon Cancer Centre Townsville Hyde Park, Townsville
• 29 September Mater Day Surgery Hyde Park, Townsville
• 30 September 1-2pm NQ Vascular Pimlico, Townsville
• 1 October Mater Day Surgery Hyde Park, Townsville
• 3 October Flight QF2302 Townsville to Cairns
• 6 October Flight VA 782 Cairns to Brisbane

“We are asking anyone who has been to these suburbs at these dates and times to monitor their health. If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.”

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

Locations visited in Brisbane and Cairns are currently deemed very low risk.

Scientists are also investigating if there is any link between the woman and the COVID-19 results detected in Townsville’s wastewater recently.

"It’s possible it might explain that and there is a theory there that needs to be tested," Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said it is a reminder that it continues to be incredibly important for Queenslanders to continue to get tested if they have any symptoms at all.

“That’s especially the case now in Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane,” he said.