Queensland's chief health officer isn't concerned over a new COVID-19 case at an aged care home as she is confident the state has wrested control of its current virus cluster.
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A staff member at Carinity's Karinya Place aged care home in Laidley, west of Brisbane, is one of two new coronavirus cases on Thursday.
The man and woman, both aged in their 30s, are known to each other and are likely linked to the Sunshine State's current coronavirus cluster, centred on the Corrective Services Academy at Wacol.
Aged care provider Carinity says the affected staff member did not work while symptomatic and only had contact with one resident.
"A resident and a small number of staff who had contact with the affected staff member are now self-isolating as a precaution," Carinity said in a statement.
"Testing of residents and staff commenced overnight and is continuing today."
Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young praised the centre for its swift handling of the infection.
That the case is likely connected to the current corrections cluster is good news, she added, as it shows authorities have a handle on the outbreak.
"We're starting to see two weeks into this cluster that we've got control," Dr Young told reporters.
But she says there is still "a long, long way to go," before the border will re-open.
She again stated her requirement that NSW go a month without community transmission before considering an end to the hard border closures.
"Yesterday they had one case, so they are getting there," she said.
"Now, if they were to have 28 days of no community transmission ... then that would occur."
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the no local infection rule was a "pretty tall order".
"I don't know anywhere on the planet where a society can function openly and productively during a pandemic and give an assurance that you are going to have zero cases of community transmission for a prolonged period," she told reporters.
More than 14,000 tests were conducted in Queensland in the 24 hours to 9am, with the number of cases at 30.
In an "abundance of caution", a pop-up virus clinic has opened at Airlie Beach in Mackay after analysis of sewerage at the popular tourist spot suggested there may have been a case in the area.
Australian Associated Press
