Queensland Health has issued a public health alert for people who have eaten at Sails Restaurant in Noosa after four staff members tested positive to COVID-19 and at least 13 people who attended a function at the restaurant also tested positive.

Key points: The cluster appears to have emanated from a birthday party on March 14

The cluster appears to have emanated from a birthday party on March 14 Queensland Health says four staff kept working at the restaurant while infectious

Queensland Health says four staff kept working at the restaurant while infectious Anyone at Sails on the evenings of March 18 and 19 is being urged to monitor health carefully

Queensland Health confirmed the four staff members continued to work at the site while they were unknowingly infectious.

Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington said four guests at a 50th birthday celebration held at the restaurant on March 14 were from the Sunshine Coast and the other cases were from the broader South East Queensland region.

"Health authorities are tracing all those participants and say there is a low risk generally to people as a result of that event," he said.

Queensland Health said the four staff members had worked at the restaurant on Wednesday March 18 from 4:00pm until 11:15pm, and on Thursday March 19 from 3:00pm to 10:00pm while unknowingly infectious.

People who went to the restaurant are to monitor their health for 14 days. ( ABC News: Owen Jacques )

Health authorities have called on people who attended the restaurant during those times to monitor their health for 14 days from those dates.

Those people are urged to see a doctor immediately if they develop any symptoms.

Queensland COVID-19 snapshot: Confirmed cases so far: 1,153

Confirmed cases so far: 1,153 Deaths: 6

Deaths: 6 Tests conducted: 1,067,786

Tests conducted: 1,067,786 Active cases: 16 Latest information from Queensland Health.

Sails Restaurant owner Lyndon Simmons said it had been a challenging time for the industry.

"Most of those in attendance stayed in accommodation in and around Hastings Street," he said.

"They also had coffees and drinks and dined at a number of other establishments.

"We encourage any concerned diners to contact Queensland Health for clarification and look forward to the day when all businesses can reopen and we can welcome guests back to Sails."

Sails Restaurant owner Lyndon Simmons said it was a challenging time for the industry. ( ABC News: Owen Jacques )

Mr Simmons said he has had to lay off 50 staff temporarily, including some he has known for 20 years.

"We'll come back — it's not as though we've had some sort of disease we've created or some sort of terrible food epidemic," Mr Simmons said.

"This is a worldwide phenomena. We just happen to be caught up and somebody brought it to this precinct and they've gone and taken it elsewhere.

"If we'd been to the stage where we are now, I guess we would've put a thermometer on everybody's head and said 'you're out, you're in'. These were quite different days two weeks ago."

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Health Minister Steven Miles said it had proved difficult to get in touch with everyone who might have been exposed.

"That's why we're making this public alert public," he said.

"Our public health officials will be working through what information is available.

"Obviously they'll have access to reservation lists, credit card transactions, and they'll use that to contact people.

"I can confirm that Sails have done everything that we have asked of them. They have notified the public where appropriate. They have provided advice about patrons."

The case highlights how easily the virus can be spread when people are in close contact.

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

But Mr Miles maintained cases of community transmission were still relatively low.

"Clearly there was somebody infectious in the week prior [but] the in-community spread has thus far been very, very low," he said.

"There is nowhere in Queensland where we have uncontained community transmission."

Health Minister Steve Miles maintains cases of community transmission are still relatively low. ( ABC News: Owen Jacques )

School student tests positive to coronavirus

On Wednesday afternoon, Education Minister Grace Grace confirmed a student from Stretton State College on Brisbane's southside had tested positive to coronavirus.

Ms Grace said in a statement it was believed the child caught the virus from their parent who had been in quarantine since last week.

"Queensland Health has advised that the student was not at school during the contagious period of their illness," Ms Grace said.

"There is a low risk of transmission given the early action by the family to self-quarantine."

She said contact tracing was underway and the school would be thoroughly cleaned and would be closed until Monday.