27 April 2020: COVID-19 updates #ipswichtogether

4pm. That’s a wrap

That’s all from us today for the #ipswichtogether COVID-19 blog.

We’ll be back again tomorrow from 8am to provide more important information and community updates.

3pm. Schooling from home continues

As students across Ipswich continue schooling from home, Ipswich Grammar School has shared a look into how things are working for their students.

2pm. Help is available

It is extremely important to seek out help if you feel you need it. Here are some important numbers which will have a guiding hand at the end of the line:

• 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;
• Kids Helpline – for children that may need support 1800 55 1800. https://kidshelpline.com.au;
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 https://beyondblue.org.au

1.10pm. Tough fines to protect essential workers

The State Government has introduced big fines to protect essential workers from people who deliberately cough, sneeze or spit on them. 

“I was disturbed by stories of people threatening to deliberately infect frontline staff,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on social media.

“People who deliberately cough, sneeze or spit on essential workers could be fined more than $13,000 under a new COVID-19 health emergency order.

“Every essential worker deserves protection from this disgusting behaviour.”

12pm. University offers free online mini-courses

The University of Southern Queensland is offering free UpSkill mini courses during COVID-19.

People can choose one of five free Upskill courses on offer from today, with topics ranging from cyber security to creativity in entrepreneurship and ethical leadership.

UpSkill mini courses involve about 40 hours of online learning over four weeks, and can even count towards university credits.

Find out more here: https://upskill.usq.edu.au/courses

11am. Info for tenants and landlords

The Residential Tenancies Practice Guide provides detail on:

• Threshold criteria to qualify for the application of the COVID-19 rental response, that includes a 25 per cent reduction in income, or where rent exceeds 30 per cent of the tenant’s income.
• The evidence that tenants can be asked to provide the same proof of finances to property managers just as they would when starting a tenancy.
• Access for the sale of the property, virtual rental inspections and access for essential repairs and maintenance.
• The 75 per cent income loss and less than $5,000 in savings threshold before a tenant is eligible for a 7-day cap on break lease fees if they end a fixed term lease early.
• The extension on the term of a fixed term tenancy agreement during the COVID-19 period to September 30, 2020 unless agreed otherwise by the owner and tenant, or there is an appropriate ground to end the tenancy.
• Conciliation with the Residential Tenancies Authority, including the renegotiation of lease agreements where parties are COVID-19 effected, which could cover new rent payments and deferrals if this is agreed to.

A copy of the Practice Guide can be found online at www.COVID19.qld.gov.au/the-hub.

10am. Have you got the COVIDSafe app yet?

As at 10.30pm on Sunday evening, one million Australians had downloaded and registered for the Australian Government’s voluntary COVIDSafe app.

The COVIDSafe app speeds up the current manual process of finding people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

This means you’ll be contacted more quickly if you are at risk, effectively reducing the chances of you passing on the virus to your family, friends and other people in the community.

When you download the app you provide your name, mobile number, and postcode and select your age range. You will receive a confirmation text message to complete installation.

The system then creates a unique encrypted reference code just for you.

Find out more: COVIDSafe app

9.30am. Restrictions to ease

Following encouraging signs that Queensland is flattening the COVID-19 curve, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Sunday announced that some restrictions will ease. 

From 11.59pm on Friday, 1 May Queenslanders will be able to leave their homes for recreational purposes, including: 

• Going for a drive
• Riding a motorbike, jetski or boat for pleasure
• Having a picnic
• Visiting a national park
• Shopping for non-essential items.

But there are three conditions that apply to the above:

• Social distancing and hygiene must be maintained
• You have to stay within 50km of home and
• Outings are limited to members of the same household or an individual and one friend.

All other rules including gatherings and limits on visitors remain in place during this time.

9am. Public Health Alert – Virgin Flight VA341 – Melbourne to Brisbane

Queendsland Health is in the process of contacting people from flight VA341 from Melbourne to Brisbane on 20 April 2020 after a passenger on this flight tested positive to COVID-19.

Passengers seated in rows 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of this flight, who have not already been contacted by Queensland Health, are being asked to call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and advise that you were a passenger on this flight.

All other passengers are considered very low risk, however anyone with health concerns can contact 13 HEALTH.

8.30am. This year’s Goodna Jacaranda Festival called off

One of the city’s most iconic community events, the Goodna Jacaranda Festival, has been called off this year.

The festival was to be held in October. Organisers have said it will return in 2021.

8am. Monday, 27 April 2020. Restrictions to ease as recoveries increase

Some restrictions will be eased and some national parks will partially re-open as only five new cases were confirmed over the weekend along with a big increase in the proportion of recovered cases.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslanders were doing a great job of listening and following directions which was flattening of the curve.

“I can announce some good news after discussions with the Chief Health Officer,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“From midnight Friday, we will lift some of the stay-at-home restrictions.*

“But can I say, this is a very small step that we need the public to 100 per cent co-operate with because if we do see mass gatherings, I will not hesitate to clamp back down.”

West Moreton Health has had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of April.

The region’s confirmed cases have stayed at 37.

Of West Moreton Health district’s 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 11 remain active while 26 have now recovered.

The five new cases recorded in Queensland over the weekend raise the state total to 1,030.

Yesterday the total cases were revised up from 1,026 to 1,027.

There are now 98 active cases with 926 recoveries and six deaths for a total of 1030.

Currently, 964 of the 1,030 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.

A total of 98,422 tests for COVID-19 has been undertaken in Queensland, with 1,364 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.

Currently, 18 of the 98 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with six of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.

A total of 926 Queenslanders (almost 90% of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.

Queensland’s testing criteria has now been expanded so that anyone in the state who has fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.

Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms.

Contact tracing continues for recent cases.

Queensland Health asks residents to continue practising good hygiene and staying home, especially if sick.

Washing hands properly and often is the gold standard of health advice that can help prevent viruses from entering the body.

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:
• live or work in a high-risk setting such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facility, detention centre or boarding school
• work in a school or child care setting or are a Queensland Police Officer
• live in:
  • Brisbane (residents within the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services boundaries)
  • Gold Coast or
  • Cairns (the area bounded by and including Palm Cove to the north, Mareeba to the west, and Gordonvale to the south)
• 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.