No new coronavirus cases recorded in Queensland, but UK variant likely still present in Brisbane

No new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Brisbane but contact tracers are racing to find people who may have come into contact with two people who have deadly UK strain of the virus.

The only new community case reported in the last five days is the partner of a quarantine hotel cleaner who tested positive, Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says.

The man initially tested negative but later tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr Young is urging anyone who visited two sites patronised by the man to get tested.

“The two days before he went into quarantine, potentially could be a risk. So I am asking people who went to any of the venues that he went to, to please, immediately come forward and get tested. The risk is low, but the risk is there,” she told reporters.

The venues are Bunnings Warehouse Acacia Ridge, between 2pm and 2.15pm on 5 January ,and Sunnybank Cellars, between 2.05pm and 2.15pm on 6 January.

She also urged anyone who went to three venues visited by the hotel cleaner last week to come forward and get tested.

Dr Young said even though there were just two cases of community infection it was too early for Greater Brisbane to return to normal.

“Just remember the incubation period is 14 days, and there is no evidence that the incubation period for this new variant is any different,” she said.

“We need to maintain all of the systems and processes we’ve all got in place as individuals to protect ourselves if this were to spread.”

Dr Young also announced visitors from Victoria will only need to get tested on arrival and isolate if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

It comes as Victoria recorded a sixth consecutive day without a local or interstate acquired coronavirus case, as the state’s border with regional NSW reopened following the launch of a new permit system.

Anyone planning to enter Victoria from interstate will need to apply for a travel permit under the state government’s “traffic light” system, which had a delayed launch on Monday evening.

The system designates regions as green, orange or red zones based on their coronavirus risk profile.

Regional NSW has been classified orange, while Greater Sydney and Greater Brisbane remain red.

Despite the changes coming into effect at 6pm on Monday, people were unable to apply for a permit on the Services Victoria website until about 8.55pm.

A government spokeswoman apologised for the delay.

“The teams from DHHS and Service Victoria worked as quickly as possible to get the permit system up and running, as they worked to draft directions and experienced some technical issues,” she said.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton took to social media to deny reports the delay stemmed from the new public health directions not being signed on time.

Apart from Victorian-NSW border community residents, anyone arriving in Victoria without a permit faces a $4957 fine.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the permit system will remain in place for as long as the state of emergency lasts.

“The stakes are very high here. We have built something that is precious and it needs to be safeguarded,” he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien described the permit requirement for returning from green zones as a “massive overreach”.

There were also no COVID-19 cases in hotel quarantine on Tuesday.

There are 38 active cases in the state.

Some 18,139 Victorians have been tested in the past 24 hours.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.

Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.