The Princess Alexandra Hospital has been placed into lockdown effective immediately after a positive COVID-19 case was detected today (12 March 2021).

All non-essential visits to patients will not be allowed. If you must attend PA Hospital, you will be required to wear a mask. The Emergency Department will remain open, but if you’re able to receive care at a nearby hospital or at a GP, please do so.

Staff will wear masks at all times. Patients will be required to wear masks at all times unless it is not clinically appropriate. Non-urgent outpatient bookings and elective surgery will be postponed.

Due to the early stage of this, Queensland Health is in the process of contact tracing the positive case’s movements. If there is a risk to the public from the hospital or any other location this person has visited, we will issue a public health alert.

The person, a staff member at the PA Hospital, had contact with COVID-19 positive patients in the early hours of 10 March.

The staff member was tested today (12 March). Tests indicate low level of the virus which means the staff member may have only been infectious in the community for around one day on 11 March.

All patients, staff and families this person interacted with are being identified and appropriate actions are being taken.

The hospital is actively working to ensure the safety of staff and patients on campus while contact tracing is undertaken. Contact tracing is underway and further details will be provided by the Department of Health.

Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms should get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.

To find your nearest testing clinic, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing

Notice to family members of patients:

Please make contact with your family members who are currently being treated at PA Hospital by phone or facetime as an alternative to visiting because of the current increased level of restrictions. We understand this is difficult and we thank you and your families for understanding while we work to keep everybody in the hospital safe.

Please avoid calling the hospital switchboard at this busy time if you are able to make alternative contact with your loved ones in hospital.