7 April COVID19 Update
The Statistics
- 30 March – 30 new cases overnight
- 31 march – 55
- 1 April -57
- 3 April – 30
- 6 April – 14
- Today – 13 new cases overnight
- SO – we are on the right track, but if we take the foot off the pedal, it will all be undone.
- Have seen it reported that if 90% of us obey the restrictions, we flatten the curve
- If it is only 80%, the cases start to climb again.
- SO – keep on going – we need to keep social distancing for many months yet
Looking after Health Care Staff
- Thousands of Queensland’s frontline health workers could be provided free accommodation if they want to self-isolate.
- The $17.5 million plan would help health workers protect their families if the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.
- This would allow health workers who provide care direct to infected patients to keep their families or housemates safe, without the financial burden of paying for alternative accommodation.
- Open to staff working in Intensive Care Units and dedicated COVID-19 wards,
Expanded Testing In our area
- testing for COVID-19 in Metro North and other health regions will be expanded
- Anyone who presents to a GP or fever clinic/hospital in these regions who has respiratory symptoms indicative of COVID-19 will now be tested for COVID-19.
- Don’t have to been overseas or in contact with someone overseas
Reminder of Restrictions
- Public gatherings are now limited to two people (except for people from the same household)
- all public spaces such as playgrounds, parks, skate parks are closed
- Queenslanders can have two visitors into their residence who don’t always live there
- All essential day-to-day activities and businesses, such as school and work, can proceed, but they must ensure the space is big enough for one person per four-square-metres.
- Regarding long term long term family arrangements where grandparents look after the kids of working parents:
- There are provisions in the Public Health Direction for immediate family members to visit one another to provide care, support and assistance.
- This covers caring for children where the parent has to go to work as an essential service
Help for Qld Clubs
- If you are a worker at a local club, we’ve brought in some measures to help the clubs keep going.
- From April, Qld’s 1,100 pubs and clubs will get a three month deferral on gaming machine taxes
- That’s a relief package worth $50 M to the sector.