Queenslanders urged not to be complacent as families reunite for Christmas
Authorities are pleading for Queenslanders to remain vigilant about Covid-19 and say most people will know someone positive or be infected themselves within weeks.
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Authorities are pleading for Queenslanders to avoid becoming complacent about the threat of Covid-19 and warned most people will know someone or be infected themselves within weeks.
There are 2147 active Covid-19 cases across the state after 765 were added on Saturday, however just five people are in hospital requiring care and none are in intensive care.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it was “wonderful news”, but admitted there was a risk Queenslanders could become complacent following reports the Omicron strain – which is responsible for 151 cases – is more mild.
“I think where complacency could creep in is just in that mask wearing, the social distancing and good hand hygiene,” she said.
“Because of the great work of Queensland’s getting vaccinated our hospitalisation rates are low.
“In the next few weeks or months, most of us will be able to say we have known someone, met someone, lived with someone or had Covid ourselves so that is a reminder to take it seriously.”
Queenslanders are being urged not to “drop the ball” in staying safe from Covid-19 with
34 of 77 local government areas now recording cases.
In a reminder of the threat, Ms D’Ath said three young people coming to Queensland for Christmas Day had tested positive while waiting for their PCR test to enter.
She said one was planning on attending a gathering with 30 people, including an elderly person and a newborn.
“I thank them, I know they are missing out on Christmas with their family,” she said.
With most people gathering with family and friends, she said it was “inevitable” infections would rise.
“This virus is everywhere now and we have to assume everywhere we go, we could be exposed,” Ms D’Ath said.
There were scenes of tears, relief and jubilation at airports across the state for reuniting family members after months and years apart.
Clive Angus and his wife Anne flew in from Melbourne on a “do or die” Christmas Day dash to celebrate and reunite with their son Dan and grandchildren Eleanor and Sadie.
Mr Angus said their last minute flight was put in jeopardy by a delay in PCR results.
His wife Anne received her results on Thursday but it was not until 11:11pm on Friday night that Mr Angus got the notification he was clear.
“The last couple of weeks were horrible – only one of us would go to the grocery shop … just basic things you take for granted in other states,” she said.
Son Dan Angus said he had multiple work trips cancelled but due to the “cyclic nature” of case numbers and his two daughters were not able to visit their grandparents in the school holidays.
“Every time there was an outbreak it was at the same time as the school holidays and Eleanor and Sadie would normally visit their grandparents in Melbourne every September,” he said.
“Christmas was do or die for the family this year after so many months apart.”
Mr Angus said “politically” Christmas had to happen this year but his father was lucky to be able to enter Queensland.
“My parents stayed at a hotel near the airport just in case they got knocked back – they also live in the eastern suburbs, Vermont, an hour drive from the airport.”
The family celebrated Christmas Day in East Brisbane with “plenty of food, drinks and trifle”.
Mr Angus said his sister and her two children will also fly in Queensland next week.
Damanpreet Kaur flew in from Sydney with her husband Mandeep Singh and their three-year-old daughter Estela Kaur.
At the airport, Ms Kaur said she just felt “really happy and warm” to be back with her sister after two years and the “longest time” they have ever spent apart.
“My daughter would not remember the last time she saw her aunty and facetime just isn’t the same as being able to touch and hug someone in person,” she said.
Ms Kaur said she missed her sister’s wedding earlier in the year but was excited to make up for lost time over the next couple of weeks.
“We are looking forward to spending some quality time together over Christmas but also doing some sightseeing – family is important to us especially with Estela’s grandparents overseas.”
The family moved from India to Melbourne five years ago but this is their first trip to Brisbane.
Sister Amanpreet Kaur said being reunited with her sister but especially her niece was the “best Christmas present” she could have asked for.
“I have missed my family a lot.”
Darren Rowland and his family spent Christmas Day with extended family in Loganholme after nearly two years apart.
Mr Rowland said his wife Marie and their three children; Noah, Eliana and Lachlan “isolated” in their Melbourne home for a week because they were worried about not being allowed into Queensland.
“We were very anxious on the way up and for a couple of weeks before our Christmas Eve flight – a lot of things could have gone wrong,” he said.
“It was brilliant and a huge weight off the shoulders when we finally cleared the airport and relaxed on the back deck at mum and dads place with a beer and got to reconnect – it was beautiful.”
The family had anxiety in the lead week leading up to their Christmas Eve flight because there was so much “uncertainty” but it was “huge relief: when they got through the airport.
“We had anxiety all week about the flight being cancelled – we stayed at home for a week so didn’t risk getting pinged by contract chasing.”
“The family were in a bubble for a week because we wanted to make sure we gave ourselves the best chance of getting into Queensland.”
He said it was great the family were able to reunite after 18-months apart and for a “big party” on Christmas Day.
Mr Rowland said although his family missed a reunion for his sister’s 40th birthday in Palm Cove earlier in the year, everyone finally reunited on Christmas Day.
“We weren’t able to go to my sister’s birthday earlier in the year but on Christmas Day we made up for it and spent plenty of time in the pool.”
“There was lots of eating, drinking and catching up – it was nice to be back with my brother, sister and their kids but also mum and dad.”
There were at least 650 people in quarantine on Christmas Day.
“We know it’s difficult but we are so grateful for what you are doing,” Ms D’Ath said.
The state government and chief health officer John Gerrard are investigating how exposure sites are recorded, while Ms D’Ath insisted contact tracers were keeping up with demand.
“We’ll be looking at the categorisation of exposure sites … we continue to do work around the definition of casual versus close contacts and how many people have to quarantine and for how long,” she said.
If the public health unit says it needs more resources they’ll get it
The government has also launched its ‘Covid Care Pathway toolkit’, a detailed guide for people to “prepare yourself for becoming positive with Covid”.
“By getting Covid ready you’re doing the same as we prepare for our bushfires, for our cyclones, for our floods that we do every year,” Ms D’Ath said.
“There’ll be 10 things you can do to get ready for Covid including preparing a get Covid ready kit, things like having a thermometer at home, pain relief, regular medications, a plan of who may look after your children if one or both parents end up unwell and needing hospitalisation.”
With booster vaccinations brought forward to four months, Ms D’Ath said Queensland had been assured by the Commonwealth “that there is adequate supply”.
‘Now that we’ve got this notice a little bit in advance this time hopefully all of us are going to be able to bring forward our orders and make sure that we’ve got the deliveries ready to go,” she said.
To view the Covid Care Pathway toolkit visit www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-ready
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