208 new local cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, one more death; No new cases in Queensland; Vaccine stocks increased with 500,000 Pfizer injections; Concern about the new Mu variant

A truck driver who has been infectious with the coronavirus for five days in parts of Queensland has the condition on edge with contact tracers racing to track his movements.

This sparked calls for immediate action to prevent the highly contagious Delta variant from taking hold.

The chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, Professor Jane Halton, said Queensland was preparing for “a delicate situation”.

“We have to be realistic, don’t we, unfortunately,” Professor Halton told Today.

“It’s very, very contagious and we know that in Victoria, where they literally shut down the whole state when they had about one case, we’ve always seen it slip away.

“I think we need to prepare for what could be a pretty tricky situation ahead in Queensland. Five days is a long time to be in the contagious community.”

The man, from Windaroo to Logan, was potentially contagious in the community for up to five days, between August 28 and September 1 before testing positive on the Gold Coast.

The man was the only new local case of COVID-19 in Queensland yesterday.