Ipswich residents have been urged to visit COVID testing centres as more cases emerge in South East Queensland.
There were 19 new cases overnight, 16 of those locally acquired and linked to the Indooroopilly Delta cluster, bringing the total cases to 63 in the current cluster – the highest number in the state since the pandemic began.
Dozens of new close, casual and low contact locations were added to the Queensland Health hotlist overnight – but none in Ipswich.
Queensland “smashed” its testing numbers, up from 35,357 on Monday to 51,479 yesterday. Deputy Premier Steven Miles urged people to keep those numbers above 50,000 to have any chance of ending the lockdown soon after the scheduled 4pm Sunday 8 August.
In three days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), almost 800 people were tested at the Ipswich Hospital’s Court Street Fever Clinic, including a record 320 tests on Monday.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding encouraged Ipswich residents to either get tested or get their vaccinations.
“The latest figures in West Moreton and South East Queensland show we are doing the right thing and getting tested,” Mayor Harding said.
“The Chief Health Officer has asked for more than 50,000 people a day to get tested and we hit the mark yesterday.
“Thank you to each and every resident who is following the restrictions, getting tested, and keeping our community safe.”
All the new cases were linked to Indooroopilly High School, Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane Girls Grammar, and Ironside State School, with several household or family contacts of already known cases.
There are a wide range of testing options across West Moreton, with the opening hours at the Court Street Fever Clinic now extended until Friday from 8am to 6.30pm.
Testing options include:
- QML Pathology pop-up drive through clinic, Raceview Hockey Grounds, 65 Briggs Rd
8am to 4pm until Friday 6 August
No appointment needed
Note: For safety reasons, people on foot or on motorbikes will not be accepted. During periods of high winds or rain, the clinic will temporarily close. Extra traffic is expected in the area so please expect some delays.
- Mater Private Hospital Springfield, Health Care Dr, Springfield Central
8am to 4pm until Friday 6 August
No appointments needed (minimal wait times reported)
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology are also offering COVID-19 testing at a range of clinics in West Moreton, with sites updated daily on their website here.
- GP Respiratory Clinics at Flinders Peak GP Respiratory and Vaccine Clinic (07 5464 6765), Kambu GP Respiratory and Vaccine Clinic (0408 699 432) and Health Matters Karalee GP Respiratory and Vaccine Clinic (07 3812 3133) are available with a booking.
The best way to find a clinic closest to your home is on the Queensland Health website. Clinics have varying waiting times due to capacity and demand.
CHO Dr Jeanette Young said there were early but positive signs that the lockdown was working with two of the 16 news cases in quarantine for their entire infectious period.
One person had been in the community for one day, while another for two days. Dr Young said the only way to get on top of the current outbreak was to have zero cases out in the community while infectious.
The government also announced the Ekka show holiday on Wednesday 11 August had been cancelled and would be turned into a Friday long weekend holiday later in the year to help the state’s tourism industry.
