21/10/2021
Gold Coast Uber driver Covid-19 Positive
Went to Melbourne and back, did not check in anywhere using the QR Codes and now too breathless and sick to remember anything.
An unvaccinated Gold Coast-based Uber driver in his 30s is reportedly too sick and breathless from COVID-19 to fully assist Queensland Health officials with contact tracing, but it is believed the Broadbeach resident may have contracted the virus while interstate in Melbourne on 10 October and was infectious in the community for 10 days.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young told a press conference in Mackay this morning that it was difficult to get answers from the individual due to their condition, and the fact he has not used the QR check-in app since 18 September.
The news comes as the Sunshine State prepares for a vaccination blitz on Saturday in a bid to improve jab rates that are lagging behind the rest of the country, thus putting the state at a much higher risk of outbreaks and hospitalisations upon reopening.
Dr Young said the new case lives in an apartment complex in Broadbeach and started developing COVID-19 symptoms on 11 October, which means his infectious period dates back to 9 October.
She said he presented to the emergency department of Robina Hospital yesterday, where two separate COVID-19 tests returned positive results.
"So he then was transferred later that evening to the Gold Coast University Hospital where he is now. He lives by himself, he works as an Uber driver, so we're working very closely with Uber who have been excellent this morning to get information about whether he has had any drives during the time that he was infectious," Dr Young said.
"He is so sick that he is having difficulty communicating with us and difficulty remembering as you can imagine. So this was very difficult for him, but it is also very difficult for the Gold Coast community because I can't give you those areas that he's been."