Queensland Chief Health Officer Professor Jeannette Young.
Source: Annastacia Palaszczuk (Facebook)
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  • Queensland grandparents are being asked to stay away from their grandchildren as the state’s COVID-19 outbreak worsens
  • Another 16 cases of the virus were recorded in Queensland’s southeast on Tuesday, with many of the new cases linked to clusters within schools
  • The State’s Chief Health Officer says the outbreak is mainly affecting children and unvaccinated or elderly grandparents should keep their distance
  • In Sydney, 199 new local cases of COVID-19 have been recorded today, while Victoria announced five new infections
  • Meanwhile, several states are boosting their vaccine rollout to under 30s after receiving more doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines

Queensland grandparents are being asked to stay away from their grandchildren as the state’s COVID-19 outbreak worsens.

An additional 16 cases of the virus were recorded in Queensland’s southeast on Tuesday, with many of the new cases linked to clusters within schools.

This includes Indooroopilly State High School, Brisbane Grammar, Girls Grammar and Ironside State High School.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the new cases were primarily in children and grandparents should keep their distance.

“So far this outbreak has affected schoolkids. We’ve not seen their grandparents infected. So if you are a grandparent of one of these kids, one of these households, and haven’t been vaccinated, don’t go anywhere near your grandkids,” Professor Young said.

“If you have two doses of vaccine and normally provide care for grandkids so their parents can go and do essential work, then that’s fine. If you haven’t had your two doses of vaccine, you’re 60 or over, please stay home.”

In light of the outbreak, Queensland has received an additional 150,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to help boost its immunisation numbers.

Meanwhile in NSW, another 199 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Sydney on Tuesday, including 50 people who were infectious while out in the community.

The state is aiming to administer six million vaccine doses by the end of the month, as it grapples with more than 3000 cases of COVID-19.

Victoria recorded five cases of COVID-19 today, however, all of those infected were self-isolating or in quarantine while infectious.

Western Australia recorded no new cases, but Premier Mark McGowan announced over 30s can begin booking their Pfizer vaccines again, after the state received more supplies.

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