4.00pm. See you tomorrow
That’s a wrap from the Ipswich First team today. We’ll be back again tomorrow from 8am.
If you have something you think we should be highlighting, send us an email at ipswichfirst@ipswich.qld.gov.au
3.45pm. Why social distancing matters
3.10pm. Where to get help if you need it
While social isolation helps to protect our health physically, spending time away from others can be challenging for our mental well being.
It’s extremely important to seek help if you need it.
Here are some numbers for helplines which will continue to operate during COVID-19:
- Lifeline 13 11 14 will continue to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14 will continue to operate 6pm – midnight (AEDT), 7 nights a week
- Lifeline webchat will continue to operate 7pm – midnight (AEDT), 7 nights a week
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 beyondblue.org.au
- Kids Helpline – for children that may need support 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au
2.20pm. Blood donors needed: can you help?
With non-essential activities restricted across the region, it is important to remember that blood and plasma donation remains absolutely vital, and travel and venue restrictions do not prevent people from giving blood.
If you’re healthy and haven’t travelled overseas in the past 28 days, Lifeblood needs your help to meet Australia’s demand for blood and plasma.
The Ipswich Lifeblood Donor Centre is located at the Riverlink Medical Centre on level 1, 2 Lowry Street in North Ipswich. You can book an appointment online or by calling 13 14 95.
If you’re unable to donate at this time, you can still help Lifeblood find the 14,000 donors they need this month by spreading the word.
Read more here: Ipswich blood donors needed amid coronavirus concerns
1.20pm. Your questions about the changes to schools in Term 2 answered
Earlier this week, the Queensland Government announced that school students will learn from home for the first five weeks of Term 2, with schools only open for vulnerable children and the children of essential workers.
The announcement left many parents and carers wondering if they were considered essential workers and whether they should send their children to school next week.
According to Education Queensland’s website, an essential worker is ‘any worker who must continue to attend their workplace for essential business during this time’.
If you fall into this category, you may still send your children to school on days when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made.
The only other children who may attend schools from the start of Term 2 are:
- Vulnerable children, including children identified by schools or who:
- are currently receiving services from Child Safety, including children who are subject to a child protection order
- are subject to a youth justice order.
- Children in designated Indigenous communities.
All other students will learn from home from the start of Term 2 to 22 May 2020. Schools will communicate directly with students and their parents/carers about how and when they will receive learning materials and teacher feedback.
Want more information? Education Minister Grace Grace recently did a live Q&A session on Facebook. You can view that video below. You can also get answers to a number of frequently asked questions on Education Queensland’s website.
12.30pm. Funding for local history projects
If you’ve found yourself with more time on your hands while staying at home and are fascinated by local history, this may be of interest to you.
The Viva Cribb Bursary offers up to $5,000 of funding to help with a project on a significant aspect of Ipswich’s local history.
It can be in a variety of formats, from a book to an app or video, as long as it’s on someone or something connected to Ipswich.
Visit the Ipswich City Council website for more information.
12.00pm. Queenslanders asked to keep flattening the curve
Queensland Health authorities are urging Queenslanders to keep up the great work by staying home as much as possible, washing hands and observing social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The latest numbers show there are 5 new confirmed cases in Queensland, bringing the state total to 999 cases of COVID-19.
Check Queensland Health’s Unite against Covid-19 website to keep up to date with the latest information, health advice and government actions:
11.25am. Free fruit and veges for those in need
As COVID-19 causes mounting financial pressure and job losses, local charities and not-for-profit groups are doing what they can to support Ipswich’s most vulnerable.
Ipswich Food Barn currently has free fruit and vegetables for those in need.
If you need help right now, visit Ipswich Food Barn’s Facebook page for regular updates and please bring your own bags or boxes.
Other charities, including Ipswich Assist, are working to provide meals to the homeless in accordance with social distancing measure.
Read more here: Charity groups urge community to band together
11.05am. Staying active
It’s important for our physical and mental health to keep our bodies moving while staying home.
Ipswich City Council has produced a series of Active at Home videos, which will guide you through a number of fitness classes, from abs or lower body workouts to yoga and pilates.
See the full Active at Home series here and grab yourself a mat or a towel and a water bottle and get started.
10.45am. Cafes adapting to change
Ipswich cafe Rafter and Rose is continuing to adjust its menu in order to keep the doors open during COVID-19.
Freshly baked goods, including pastries and today’s brioche jam doughnuts which are just out of the oven, are proving popular with customers.
The family-owned business has also started selling produce from the cafe with boxes of organic veg.
While many local cafes have adjusted their hours, most cafes are still open for takeaway coffees and take-home meals.
Check out some more great takeaway options to help support local business through these difficult times:
10am. Additional paramedics to help with COVID-19 response
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday announced that additional paramedics would be deployed across Queensland to help with the state’s COVID-19 response.
“Paramedics on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic are doing an incredible job and we’re making sure they have the resources and staff they need,” she said in a social media post.
An extra 45 paramedics have already been deployed across the state with another 60 graduates fast-tracked to start training this month.
Of these, six will be deployed in the West Moreton region.
QAS Triple Zero (000) Operations Centres will also get a boost, with an additional 15 Emergency Medical Dispatchers to begin training in later this month.
8.55am. Busting COVID-19 myths
Be careful what you read on social media.
There’s plenty of myths doing the rounds about COVID-19. Here’s a few that health authorities have debunked:
8.35am. Kids going stir-crazy in isolation?
It’s a challenging time for parents as they juggle working from home with managing their children’s remote learning and keeping them entertained during the school holidays.
Here’s a few ideas on how to keep your kids moving, learning and playing in a safe environment while the family is stuck at home and avoid the dreaded “I’m bored” complaints.
Read more: 10 ways to keep your kids entertained during isolation
8am. Wednesday, 15 April 2020. No new cases in West Moreton
The number of COVID-19 cases in the West Moreton region remains steady, with no new confirmed cases for the past fortnight.
Of the region’s 37 confirmed cases, 20 remain active while 17 have recovered.
Queensland recorded an additional 11 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the state’s total to 998. Contact tracing is underway for the new cases.
Queensland Health will notify the community if any other public health alerts are required.
Of the total 37 cases in the West Moreton region, 27 were located in Ipswich suburbs, seven in Brisbane suburbs, one in the Scenic Rim Council area, one in the Somerset Regional Council area and one in the Lockyer Valley Regional Council area.
COVID-19 testing criteria has also been expanded.
A person will generally be tested if they have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, and, in the last 14 days:
- they were a close contact or a household contact of a confirmed case
- they had been overseas, including on a cruise.
Testing may also be done for people who have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, and:
- work in vulnerable settings such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, a school or child care, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools.
- live in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Cairns
- live in or travelled from a COVID-19 hotspot
- live in or travelled from another state
- live in a First Nations community.
Queensland Health is urging anyone who meets this criteria for testing, to contact a doctor immediately.
Before your appointment, please call ahead and advise of your symptoms and recent travel they can prepare for your visit.
