Queensland expecting more COVID-19 cases
Queensland health officials expect more locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in coming days, but remain confident the outbreaks are under control as the number of exposure sites in the southeast grows.
More shops from two major shopping centres in Brisbane were listed as exposure sites late on Monday after positive cases attended both Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Westfield Chermside.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk remained optimistic on Monday, highlighting the extensive work of contact tracing and the links to existing clusters.
She also took solace in less dangerous Alpha variant spreading in the community, as opposed to the highly contagious Delta strain.
But while Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young shared the premier's optimism, she said Queensland wasn't out of the woods yet.
"This cluster of the Alpha variant is all coming together and we're finding out where all the issues are," Dr Young said.
"We need a bit longer to work through this, to manage all of the cases and I expect we will see a few more still come through."
In the midst of Queensland's latest outbreak, the government has ramped up its push for dedicated quarantine facilities in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
Ms Palaszczuk affirmed the government's commitment to transitioning from hotels to purpose built quarantine facilities and stated Queensland was positioned for two, subject to Commonwealth approval.
The government had agreed to progress the facility at Pinkenba next to Brisbane Airport, as well as its feasibility and planning work.
"We need the one at Toowoomba and the one at the Brisbane Airport. That is our position." she said.
"We are going to keep working with the Commonwealth on both of those but we are having very productive discussions with them around the Brisbane Airport one.
"We have a detailed plan for a facility at Wellcamp (at Toowoomba).
"It has distinct advantages, not the least of which the planning is already done and ready to go."
But Federal health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed on Monday the federal government would stick with one purpose built facility in Queensland.
He told reporters the Wellcamp facility was deemed an unsuitable facility.
"Indeed, I have spoken with the local member Garth Hamilton, who has reaffirmed the strong overwhelming view of the local community against it," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"We're working very constructively with Queensland. The Pinkenba base is being considered. Queensland has stepped forward on that."
