The Griffin Report, considered by Cabinet today and released this afternoon, followed an investigation into a woman whose COVID-19 infection sparked lockdowns in Brisbane, Townsville and Magnetic Island.

The investigation focussed on whether the woman, who worked outside a COVID-19 ward, should have been vaccinated in line with a Queensland Health policy that all staff who deal with infected patients be protected.

It found the woman was not required to be vaccinated under the policy, and there was no evidence of infection control breaches or any unvaccinated staff entering the ward.

Genomic sequencing linked the woman’s infection to that of a patient, however the investigation was not asked to examine the line of transmission, despite the woman then infecting a family member, sparking lockdowns.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young was thankful the contact tracing and tests that followed did not uncover any transmission beyond those three cases. She could not explain how the woman came to be infected at the hospital.

“I don’t think we’ll ever know how it happened,” Young said today.

While the investigation recommended all staff in buildings that house COVID-19 wards be vaccinated, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has already proposed mandatory vaccination at all hospitals dealing with COVID-19 patients: the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital, Gold Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Cairns Hospital.

D’Ath said those hospitals had given in-principle support but Queensland Health was “working through the logistics” of what to do with staff who could not or would not get vaccinated. It will also consider tightening procedures in line with recommendations from the Griffin report.

Already, 77 per cent of workers at those hospitals have been fully vaccinated, an outcome the Minister suggested would be the envy of some other states.

“That is clerical, cleaners, security, wardies, nurses, doctors,” D’Ath said.

“That’s a great result.”

However, Young said she “firmly believed” all workers in all Queensland Health facilities should be vaccinated, a policy NSW Health is now adopting amid the state’s worsening outbreak.

“I would like every single healthcare worker – and the vast majority have already taken it up – to be vaccinated,” Young said.

D’Ath said first dose rates ranged from almost 100 per cent for medical professionals and clinicians to 74 per cent for administrative staff.

Vaccination will soon be mandatory for all aged care workers, who were given three months to comply. D’Ath had previously suggested there be a similar transition period for COVID-19 hospital workers, who Young suggested may have been hamstrung by a lack of supplies.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk resorted to social media to announce another day of no local COVID-19 cases, just two cases detected in hotel quarantine and acquired overseas. No-one has been infectious in the community in Queensland for 23 days.

Queensland eased restrictions on Friday and, despite maintaining tight border control measures with NSW, has so far avoided the prolonged lockdowns of other states.

However, a parliamentary committee on Monday heard the uncertainty associated with the pandemic has exacerbated underlying mental health issues for many people, and experts were awaiting more data on the impact of prolonged lockdowns.

Queensland Health’s Associate Professor John Allan, executive director of the mental health branch, said over the last five years mental health presentations to public hospitals had increased 8-10 per cent. Last year, it increased 10-12 per cent, and this year another five per cent.

“It’s been worsening over time, particularly for younger people,” Allan said.

“Covid seems to have brought out more self-harm and more eating disorders.

“Fortunately, we’re able to meet that demand and understand and do more for that.”