Covid Cairns: Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch says it’s time to ‘manage’ living with pandemic
A Far North-based MP believes the state should be preparing to abolish Covid restrictions and mandates “sooner rather than later” in a similar way to one European country, who ended virtually all of its pandemic laws today.
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A Far North-based MP believes the state should be preparing to abolish Covid restrictions and mandates “sooner rather than later” in a similar way to Denmark, who ended virtually all of its pandemic laws today.
The Scandinavian country’s government boldly decided “that Covid-19 should no longer be categorised as a socially critical disease”, dumping most of its current coronavirus restrictions following expert health advice.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said Queenslanders were “very close” to being able to release the burden of worrying about lockdowns, isolation, QR check ins and mask directives.
It comes as James Cook University infection control expert Vanessa Sparke called for the state and federal governments to manage Covid like any other viral infection, such as influenza.
“I agree, we have got all of the tools and levers there to be able to manage this,” Mr Entsch said when asked about Denmark’s decision.
“So let’s manage the bloody thing.
“I think we are very, very close to that time. It needs to come sooner rather than later and it seems like we have reached the peak (of Omicron).”
Finland and the Netherlands have followed Denmark’s lead in easing restrictions, while only a few measures are still compulsory in England.
Residents in Denmark will no longer need to wear masks, nightclubs will reopen, and vaccine passes won't need to be shown upon entry into venues from February 1.
Testing and isolating upon entry into the Nordic country will be the only rule left in place and will remain for the next four weeks.
Mr Entsch said ultimately the health directives rested with the Queensland government, but with the state edging towards a 90 per cent vaccination rate “blues skies were ahead”.
The state is at 92 per cent one dose and 89.56 per cent fully vaccinated.
Ms Sparke said a commonsense approach could be adopted for Covid following the height of the Omicron outbreak.
“Keeping up with vaccinations, and especially the booster doses, will be vitally important,” she said.
“People have learnt to work from home.
“I imagine we will have another variant come out, quite often with these viruses they mutate themselves and then the mutations themselves can’t survive and will disappear. But that might take a few years to happen.”
It comes as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Covid case numbers were “encouraging”, with 7588 new cases overnight and 10 deaths, including eight in aged care facilities.
Originally published as Covid Cairns: Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch says it’s time to ‘manage’ living with pandemic
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