Today host Karl Stefanovic calls Queensland's Covid outbreak 'desperate' after 400 health workers are forced into isolation - with the state's top doc forced to let a surgeon OUT to perform life-saving surgery on a baby

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic called Queensland's situation 'absolutely desperate' after 400 healthcare workers were forced into self-isolation and a top surgeon needed special exemption to perform heart surgery on a newborn baby.

'The situation in Brisbane is absolutely desperate,' Stefanovic said. 

'Four hundred healthcare workers in isolation... 400. 

'Operations cancelled and a healthcare worker having to leave quarantine to save the life of a sick child.' 

Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young confirmed during Tuesday's Covid update that some hospital surgery and outpatient care in Brisbane had been delayed because of the number of health workers self-isolating due to the state's latest outbreak.

She also revealed she had given permission for a top cardiac surgeon who had been forced into quarantine to be released to perform heart surgery on a newborn baby. 

'All of our cardiac surgeons for the children's hospital were in quarantine,' she said. 

'We worked through how we could allow one of them to operate on an urgent case,' she said.

'We will do that every single time. No Queenslander will be denied any care because the health workers they need are in quarantine.'    

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic described Queensland's situation 'absolutely desperate' as it was revealed 400 Queensland healthcare workers were forced into self-isolation as a result of the state's latest Covid outbreak

Authorities are unsure of the link between an overseas case and Queensland's Delta outbreak, saying testing is crucial to rule out 'other transmission events'

A top cardiac surgeon from Queensland Children's Hospital was exempted from quarantine to perform urgent heart surgery on a newborn baby

Queensland health authorities remain unsure of the link between an overseas case and Queensland's Delta outbreak, saying testing is crucial to rule out 'other transmission events'.  

The cluster based in Brisbane's west has risen to 47 cases, with 16 new infections announced on Tuesday.

A 17th case was reported in North Queensland on Tuesday afternoon, with contact tracing locations announced in Cairns, Trinity Beach and Yorkey's Knob. A Qantas flight from Brisbane to Cairns on Thursday morning has also been listed.

The circumstances are currently being investigated and Queensland Health advised more information would be released on Wednesday.

'Tests are currently being performed to determine whether there is any infection risk to the community,' it said in a statement.

The number of close contact exposure sites is approaching 150, with recent additions including Kmart, McDonalds and Aldi in Indooroopilly, a swim school in St Lucia and a netball court in Graceville, as well as a site on the Gold Coast.

People queue up for a Covid-19 test in Brisbane, Queensland on Monday

The circumstances are currently being investigated and Queensland Health advised more information would be released at Wednesday's press conference

Dr Young says high testing numbers are crucial with uncertainty remaining about how the outbreak is linked to the initial two cases who arrived from overseas in late June.

'It's really important so that we can just make sure that we don't have any other transmission events,' she said.

Just under 35,000 tests were reported in the 24-hour period to Tuesday morning.

There is still hope the lockdown that stretches from the southern border to Noosa will lift as planned at 4pm on Sunday.

Dr Young says high testing numbers are crucial with uncertainty remaining about how the outbreak is linked to the initial two cases who arrived from overseas in late June

'Everyone just stay at home if you can at all, and that way we'll get through this, and we can lift on Sunday. That's absolutely my aim,' Dr Young said.

Meanwhile, Queensland Police are installing RBT-style roadblocks to ensure drivers have a valid reason for travelling.

'We'll start RBT-type stops at intersections to check if people are allowed out for a valid reason,' Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

'There is nothing to fear if people are doing the right thing.'