Queenslanders have been applauded for staying indoors over the past week, with the state's coronavirus cases rising by 62 today to 555 and Health Minister Steven Miles saying the state's physical-distancing measures are working.

Key points: Queensland has the greatest testing rate per capita in the world, the State Government says

Queensland has the greatest testing rate per capita in the world, the State Government says Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says the state is not seeing local transmission of coronavirus in Queensland

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says the state is not seeing local transmission of coronavirus in Queensland Saturday's planned local government elections and two state by-elections are going ahead

There have now been 42,965 people tested across the state, with only one person requiring intensive care.

Mr Miles said it was the greatest testing rate per capita than anywhere in the world.

"Of our cases as of yesterday, 80 per cent were acquired from overseas — almost all of the rest were from direct contacts of those who had acquired it overseas, like household members," Mr Miles said.

"What that says is our social-distancing measures are working."

Who should present to COVID-19 clinics? People with a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, AND , in the last 14 days:

People with , in the last 14 days: they were a close contact or a household contact of a confirmed case,

they were a they had been overseas, including on a cruise Testing is also possible for people who have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, AND: live or work in a high-risk setting such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools

such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools work in a school or child care setting or are a Queensland police officer

or are a live in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Cairns - Brisbane includes the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services

live in - Brisbane includes the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services live in or travelled from a COVID-19 hotspot

live in or travelled from a live in or travelled from another state

live in or travelled live in a First Nations community Queensland Health has set up testing and fever clinics for people who may be infected with COVID-19. Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results. For more information about coronavirus call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or go to the Queensland Health website

Mr Miles thanked Queenslanders for complying with the inconvenience of physical-distancing requests.

"We still have cases coming from overseas, so while we have stopped the spread here — we continue to import it from Queenslanders and Australians returning from overseas," Mr Miles said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today announced that the National Cabinet agreed to a new measure of forced quarantine in hotels for all people arriving back into Australia, from Sunday onwards.

"The Prime Minister's announcement is so important — this initiative from the National Cabinet is so important," Mr Miles said.

"My message to Queenslanders anywhere in the world, if you can get back before midnight Saturday, please do.

"We want to treat you, if you are going to get sick, in one of our hospitals."

'Just stay home'

Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the state was not seeing local transmission.

"Nearly every country in the world has this outbreak and in some countries, it is getting bigger and bigger," Dr Young said.

"In Queensland, we have seen very few breaches of the notices we have given to people at the border, but this has now become so critical that we need to take the next step.

"If you are sick, just stay home — it doesn't matter what the cause of your illness is — just stay home."

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Local Government elections to go ahead

The State Government is pushing ahead with Saturday's planned local government elections and two state by-elections, on the advice of its chief health officer.

Dr Young said voting tomorrow was still safe.

"First, maintain a 1.5-metre distance in the queue outside, when you go in be quick about it," Dr Young said.

"Make sure you've got a pen of your own, take in your card so you can quickly and efficiently be ticked off the electoral roll.

"Then move to the booth have in mind who you want to vote for and vote, put your slip of paper into the box and leave — don't stay around and talk to people."

People vote at an early-polling centre in Brisbane on Thursday. ( ABC News: Jessica van Vonderen )

Authorities said measures like physical distancing, plus a record number of pre-poll and postal votes, meant the risk was low compared to other day-to-day activities like grocery shopping.

State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers may be called upon to help maintain physical distancing at voting booths.



But the move to go ahead with the elections has baffled some doctors and scientists in the community who believe it was a gathering "we shouldn't have" and was inconsistent with other messages to stay home.

Hygiene concerns have also seen some schools decide to pull out as polling booth venues.

Concern childcare centres will close

Meanwhile, childcare centres across Australia could start closing from next week, with one industry body saying the number of children being pulled out of care due to the threat of COVID-19 was startling.

Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) Queensland manager Brent Stokes said there had been anywhere between 15 and 50 per cent drop in occupancy at some centres this week.

Many families have withdrawn their children because of job losses and the cost of childcare, with no money coming in.

"The primary one I guess is fear — fear about if their children are safe to attend and just uncertainty," Mr Stokes said.

Childcare operators say more government support is needed urgently. ( ABC News )

Some retirement villages in lockdown

At retirement villages, residents live independently in their own units, with many still driving and some holding down part-time work.

But for people in retirement villages, some facilities have entered a pre-emptive lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Village retirement group, which houses 2,000 residents in South East Queensland, said in a statement on Thursday its facilities had entered a voluntary and pre-emptive lockdown from 6:00am Friday.

The group said although there were no COVID-19 cases at any of their five facilities, no external visitors would be allowed, and the gates would be staffed to monitor and stop movement.

The requirements surrounding aged-care facilities are much stricter and governed by the Commonwealth.

The requirements surrounding aged-care facilities are much stricter and governed by the Commonwealth. ( ABC News: John Gunn )

They are in lockdown, with only two visitors allowed at any one time, with no children under the age of 16.

Regis Aged Care had gone further — allowing no visitors unless in exceptional circumstances.