Queenslanders urged to use check-in app as new COVID-19 case sparks alert

Queensland has recorded two new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, as the state keeps a watchful eye for any resurgence of the Delta strain.

One of the cases was detected in hotel quarantine, and the other was a four-year-old girl already announced on Friday evening, who was a close contact of a truck driver who previously tested positive.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. Credit:Matt Dennien

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath confirmed the child attended Boulevard Early Learning Centre and they are worried about that centre as well as Windaroo state school.

“There are children at that learning centre that also go to Windaroo State School but use the early learning centre for before and after-school care,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Consequently both of those two sites have been put into quarantine.”

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said 960 families are affected by the closures and quarantine.

Dr Young said they are more concerned about the Beenleigh Marketplace, which the truck driver visited with the four-year-old girl last Monday, August 23.

Anyone who visited the Stylish Nails salon inside the Beenleigh marketplace last Monday morning is required to quarantine for 14 days, while everyone who was at the broader marketplace is being urged to get tested.

Queensland health authorities have expressed frustration at the small number of people who checked in using the government’s app at the site at the centre of the current COVID scare.

The truck driver who tested positive attended the Stylish Nails salon at the Beenleigh Marketplace last Monday, August 23, and authorities have issues with contact tracing alerts.

Ms D’Ath said unfortunately not everyone who was there at the time had checked in using the app, meaning contact tracing efforts have been slowed down.

“There was one person during that time checked in with the check in app at the nail salon,” Ms D’Ath said.

“But we know there was at least eight customers there in addition to this gentleman and the child. And of course four staff.

“So we do need people to come forward because we can’t rely simply on the check in app data because people haven’t been checking in.”

Ms D’Ath reminded individuals and businesses that it was everyone’s responsibility to check in wherever they went.

Dr Young said they were still able to contact-trace, but it was taking longer than it had to.

“I just hope that we get everyone, so we have been working very, very closely with the owner of the nail salon and we have been looking at CCTV footage, we have been trying every way we can to find those people who attended that nail salon. That’s critical,” she said.

“So anyone who was there on that Monday morning, I need them to come forward.”

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