·
The nurse from Princess Alexandra Hospital was one of two
new local cases
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Genome testing revealed she has the same Covid strain as
another nurse
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In the past 24 hours, 33,408 tests were conducted across
Queensland
The health worker from Princess Alexandra Hospital was
one of two new local cases in Queensland on Wednesday, while the other is one
of her close contacts.
Chief health officer Jeanette Young said the nurse
received her first dose on March 19 and the vaccine did not have time to kick
in before she was exposed to the virus.
Genome testing revealed she has the same
Covid strain as another nurse from the same hospital who tested positive
earlier this week.
Authorities are trying to determine whether the women
caught the virus while working in the same ward.
'She was tested as part of the asymptomatic screening
testing process for that ward and was found to be positive,' Ms Young said.
'She has since developed some symptoms, but she was part
of that testing.'
Premier Anastasia Palasczcuk said there was
one new case in hotel quarantine recorded overnight, bringing the total number
of new cases up to three.
In the past 24 hours, 33,408 tests were conducted across
the state.
She added the lower case numbers than Tuesday - when
eight local cases were recorded - raised hopes Brisbane's three-day lockdown
may end on time at 5pm on Thursday.
She said she would decide whether or not to
extend Brisbane's restrictions on Thursday morning when officials have the most
up-to-date information.
'This is very encouraging and we'll be providing you with
an update again tomorrow at 9am, and fingered crossed, all will be looking good
for Easter,' she said.
'If we see very good testing rates across Queensland and
we don't see any unlinked community transmission, the signs for Easter are
looking positive.'
The announcement came amid fears more than 2.5 million
Brisbane residents are almost certain to remain in lockdown through the Easter
long weekend.
Greater Brisbane residents were ordered into
a snap lockdown on Monday afternoon, while hundreds more around the state who
have visited the city since March 20 remain under orders to stay at home and
self-isolate.
Queensland Health on Tuesday evening confirmed the
Princess Alexandra Hospital has been placed into lockdown as a precaution.
There are now more than 60 potential virus exposure sites
across Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Gladstone, Hervey Bay and
Gin Gin.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has left open the
door to expand the lockdown to other regions.
'The message here is that people should be on alert, no
matter where they are in Queensland,' Dr Young said.
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