Goondiwindi on high alert after three COVID cases recorded

Residents of the Queensland border community of Goondiwindi say the mood is "sombre" after three new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were recorded. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new cases this morning, saying one was a contact of a known cluster and was not of concern.

Another case was in the community for five days and all household contacts have tested negative.

The third new case was a woman in her 30s who has been in the community for four days. She has had one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Darling Downs Health is working to identify and notify any close contacts as well as exposure sites. 

Outbreak expected

Butcher Tony Gibson says residents and business owners are waiting nervously to learn more about the situation. 

"I think a lot of people are going to be a bit more vigilant on wearing masks and whatnot," he said.

"We have been expecting it.

"Today's going to be an interesting day for sure."

Another resident David Batterham said the concern among the community was palpable yesterday afternoon when the first case was announced. 

"Last night the town was very sombre, there weren't many people," he said.

Comfort in high vaccine uptake

But Mr Batterham is taking comfort in the community's high vaccination rates. 

Goondiwindi had an 81.5 per cent full vaccination rate as of October 31, while more than 90 per cent of residents had at least one dose.

"Good old Gundy, I guess we're just leading the way," Mr Batterham said. 

"Being on the border too … it's just one hell of a community and everyone just sticks together ... they just sort of do it for each other."

Chamber of Commerce member Terri-Ann Crothers said while the town was "on edge", residents were facing a reality they had been preparing for since the borders closed. 

"[We] do have very high vaccination rates, which is fantastic in terms of the potential spread," she said.

"Goondiwindi would therefore be the frontline for the rest of Queensland as well.

"So that community ... would be seeing itself as the protector for other parts of the state."

She says several businesses will be disrupted by the cases, with cleaning and staff shortages.

"I think it's only been about four [businesses]. I know the local Coles has limited some of its hours and there's a process with cleaning and so forth, and there's a couple of restaurants and cafes opting to do takeaway to be cautious," she said.

"But look, we've been through this before.

One case in Mungindi

Further west, the Balonne Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) is monitoring the situation, with 30 new COVID cases confirmed in the northern New South Wales town of Moree overnight.

There is also one new case in Mungindi, on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.

Balonne LDMG chair Samantha O'Toole said the cases reinforced the need for people to get vaccinated before Queensland's borders reopen.

"We can see that COVID-19 is coming to rural communities and largely affecting those who aren't yet vaccinated," she said.

Testing and vaccination clinics have been set up at the Mungindi Multipurpose Health Service.