Overview
Greater Sydney, all of Victoria and the entirety of South Australia are currently in lockdown; however, since southeast Queensland's last stint of stay-at-home conditions ended in early July, the Sunshine State has avoided the same fate over the past few weeks. But, that doesn't mean that life has completely returned to normal. Some restrictions remain in place, masks are still required in Brisbane and, due to a positive COVID-19 case that visited the city from Sydney while they were infectious, the list of exposure sites is growing again.
You know the drill from here, because naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of Queensland's containment strategy, and has been since early 2020. The list has been expanding in recent days, and includes one big and notable venue — one that's been named an exposure site a few times now.
Westfield Chermside, aka the biggest shopping centre in Brisbane's north, is the highest-profile location to join the list over the weekend. A positive case visited Chermside on Thursday, July 15, Tuesday, July 20 and Friday, July 23, with several specific shops within the centre identified as exposure sites.
On Thursday, July 15, three barber shops are listed: Tommy Gun's from 12.62–12.58pm, Jimmy Rod's from 12.58–1.09pm and Col Naylor between 1.09–1.30pm. Healthyworld Pharmacy on level one is also listed on the same date, between 1.45–2.10pm. All four venues are close contact spots, which means that you need to get tested ASAP and then self-isolate, regardless of whether you receive a negative result, until you're advised otherwise by Queensland Health.
Also falling into the same category: the men's department in David Jones on Friday, July 23, between 10.40–11.20am.
A number of locations at Chermside also come under the casual contact category, which requires getting tested ASAP and then self-isolating until you receive a negative result. That applies to the St George Bank ATM on Thursday, July 15 from 12.45–1.15pm, all of David Jones excluding the men's department on Friday, July 23 between 10.40–11.20am, and the Little Sparrow Cafe from 12–1pm on Friday, July 23.
And, if you were just at the shopping centre at all on Thursday, July 15, Tuesday, July 20 and Friday, July 23, you're a low-risk contact — and you must get tested, but self-isolation is only necessary if you have symptoms.
Other places of note currently named as exposure sites include Niku Ramen, the Prince of Wales Hotel and Burger Urge in Nundah, as well as Woolworths in Banyo — for the full list, head to the Queensland Health website.
As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020.
Queensland currently has 26 active cases as last reported on Sunday, July 25.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
Top image: Google Maps.