Queensland records 13 new local Covid cases - all in isolation and linked to outbreak - as state remains on track to have lockdown lifted on Sunday after a 'very good day'
- All cases were linked to Indooroopilly cluster with 12 isolating while infectious
- Health Authorities are yet to confirm if the south-east lockdown will be lifted
- Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the case numbers were very encouraging
Queensland has recorded 13 new cases of Covid-19 as the state's south-east anxiously wait to hear if the lockdown will be extended past Sunday.
The lockdown in 11 LGAs in the state is due to be lifted at 4pm on Sunday but with the surge in new cases health authorities are yet to confirm if it will.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed all cases recorded on Saturday were linked to the Indooroopilly cluster with 12 isolating while infectious.
The 13th case is under investigation with the total outbreak now at 102 cases.
'Queensland, this is another very good day. Very, very encouraging results,' he said.
'You are doing great, wearing masks, getting tested and we have been staying home. We need to keep it up.
'If we do, that is what will give us the best possible chance of starting to get closer to what is normal as soon as possible.'
The lockdown in 11 LGAs in Queensland's south-east is due to be lifted at 4pm on Sunday (pictured resident runs in Brisbane)
Mr Miles said there are 10,000 people currently in quarantine and will need to remain isolating whether or not the lockdown is lifted on Sunday.
Of the new cases on Saturday, two are household contacts of a known case at the Indooroopilly karate class, and one is a close contact of the karate class.
Five cases are household contacts of the Ironside state school and four cases are household contacts of the Indooroopilly High School.
The last case is a close contact at the Brisbane Boys Grammar School.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she was 'pretty confident' the 13th case had been isolating at the time they were infectious as well
'It is important to know we will see continued cases, many people in households with a case will continue to catch the virus in the coming days and weeks,' Mr Miles said.
'What is most important is that they are not outside of their household, they are not infectious in the community, there are 10,000 plus people subject to home quarantine direction right now.
'That is the cohort that we are monitoring. Whatever happens tomorrow, those 10,091 people will need to stay in quarantine depending on their circumstances.'
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she was 'pretty confident' the 13th case had been isolating at the time they were infectious as well.
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She also said it was still unclear if the numbers were at a limit where the lockdown could be lifted.
'It depends on what the numbers are tomorrow morning. Today's numbers are encouraging, but I really can't predict what tomorrow will do,' she said.
'I need those numbers before we have a decision.'
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will also be released from hotel quarantine on Sunday having completed the two week period after returning from Tokyo.
There were ten new infections recorded on Friday which Mr Miles said were all linked to the original Indooroopilly cluster.
Five cases are household contacts of Ironside State School cases.
It remains unclear whether 11 LGAs in south-east Queensland will be freed from lockdown on Sunday. Pictured is a worker from Arrivederci Pizzeria handing out free pizzas to those in Brisbane amid lockdown orders
Three are household contacts of Indooroopilly State High School and two are household contacts of Brisbane Boys' Grammar School cases.
Eight of the cases were not infectious in the community.
Two further cases were infectious in the community for one day but during the lockdown period.
Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said on Friday: 'I will want to see the numbers on Sunday morning.
'It is just too quick. We've only had the lockdown for eight days.
'I will need every single one of those days to be able to work through when and if we should lift that lockdown on Sunday afternoon.'
'There will still be restrictions, there always are restrictions after you remove a lockdown,' Dr Young said. 'But the specifics of those restrictions, I just need to see how things track over the next few days.'
Dr Young also once again flagged the possibility of children being forced to wear masks, specifically older children in primary school.
There are more than 10,000 people isolating in Queensland due to the new outbreak
Residents are seen queuing outside a takeaway cafe in South Brisbane on Friday
'Depends on the size of the mask and that it fits neatly on the face, and also that the children can keep it on,' she said. 'It might end up being those older children in primary school.
'Nothing is decided at this stage.'
Dr Young also said it was possible Queenslanders would have to wear masks until Christmas.
'Masks are just so critical with this Delta variant, they really and truly are,' she said.
'If we want to try and avoid lockdowns, we are going to have to get used to wearing masks.'
The Covid outbreak in Queensland, its worst since the onset of the pandemic last year, began with the case of a 17-year-old schoolgirl at Indooroopilly State High School, with subsequent cases genomically linked to this cluster.
Seven Brisbane schools had since been caught up in the outbreak.
Brisbane Girls Grammar School confirmed another student had tested positive on Thursday night, increasing the school's number of cases to three.
A parent linked to Brisbane Grammar School also tested positive, growing that school's cluster to eight students, two teachers and two parents.
Healthcare workers are seen at testing clinic at the Indooroopilly State High School
