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Health

Queensland records zero local cases of COVID-19, one in hotel quarantine, as state reaches 70pc first-dose mark

Yvette D'Ath says "time is up" for Queenslanders who are yet to be vaccinated. (ABC News)

Queensland has recorded zero locally acquired cases of COVID-19, with just one case detected in hotel quarantine.

It comes after a passenger who flew into Queensland without a valid border pass tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Queensland Health announced the Brisbane Airport as a close contact site over the weekend, after a person from New South Wales landed at the domestic terminal on Saturday morning. 

"They're no risk to the community here, but the airport itself is an exposure site around that gate," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said airports were "always a higher risk".

"They didn't have the right border pass so police managed them, and they went into hotel quarantine overnight," Dr Young said.

"The next morning, [they] returned to Sydney on Qantas flight 509.

"We're asking people who were at that departure gate … to come forward and get tested."

Queensland Health has also confirmed a man in his 40s is being treated for COVID-19 in an intensive care unit in a Queensland hospital.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says airports are always "higher risk". (ABC News: Lucas Hill)

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said anyone coming over the border without the appropriate passes "will be picked up".

"That person was placed into … hotel quarantine and returned the next day," he said.

"We will review whether any enforcement action needs to be taken."

'Time is up'

Queensland has not recorded a locally acquired cases since October 5, with parts of the state's south-east and Townsville easing some restrictions last Friday.  

There have been 6,825 COVID tests over the past 24 hours, with 21,712 vaccines administered yesterday, meaning Queensland today passed the 70 per cent mark for over-16s who have received their first jab.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted confirmation on Monday afternoon that the 70 per cent mark had been reached.

"This is a big step towards our goal of 80 per cent double doses for Queenslanders," she tweeted.

"We need as many Queenslanders vaccinated as possible, so we're making it easy to get the jab."

Ms D'Ath said earlier the number of Queenslanders vaccinated over the weekend was yet to be confirmed but that she was "absolutely confident" 70 per cent of the population have now received their first dose of a COVID vaccine.

"The Commonwealth don't report on weekends, so when we get that update today from the Commonwealth — we are absolutely confident," she said.

Dr Young said it was a great weekend for vaccination, with 18 schools opening as pop-up sites where more than 4,000 people received a COVID jab.

"There are so many places you can get vaccinated today," Dr Young said.

The state began its home quarantine trial today for up to 1,000 returning Queensland residents who have been stuck in interstate COVID-19 hotspots.

Dr Young said the process will only be available to Queenslanders who have been fully vaccinated.

"If there is any Queenslander out there in any of the hotspots in Victoria, New South Wales or ACT go straight away … and get yourself vaccinated.

"That's what's required of people who want to come back into Queensland and have that opportunity."

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