Why State Government is ruling out relaxed close contact requirements for hospo, tourism workers
The State Government has ruled out relaxing close contact isolation rules for key Far North industries like hospitality and tourism ahead of the predicted peak in Covid-19 cases.
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THE State Government has ruled out relaxing close contact isolation rules for key Far North industries like hospitality and tourism ahead of the predicted peak in Covid-19 cases across the state.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has also revealed that cases will peak first in South East Queensland before tourism hubs like Cairns.
Announcing the definition of a critically essential worker would be expanded to include the aged care, disability support, beverage, media, telecommunication and broadcasting industries on Sunday, Ms D’Ath said that meant people who worked in those areas and who were close contacts would be able to forgo isolation and return to work.
From Monday those close contacts who do return to work will be forced to undertake a rapid test on day one, two, four and six.
When asked whether industries like tourism and hospitality – already beset by staff shortages before the surge in Covid-19 cases – would at any point also be added to the critically essential worker definition, Ms D’Ath said that was not the current health advice.
“If we move to the point where there’s so many on that list that there’s basically no one outside of it, you’re moving to a strategy of all close contacts can go to work,” she said.
“We are not there yet. We are moving into the wave, we haven’t hit our peak.”
Ms D’Ath said cases would first peak over the next few days in the Gold Coast, before moving around the state.
“So it’s not like we’re going to get this quick peak and then in two or four weeks time it’s all going to be over and we can get back to our normal lives in Queensland,” she said.
“It will peak in the Gold Coast, it will then move into the broader South East Queensland, it will move into areas like Cairns and our big tourism areas and it will move into our regions.”
She said she was particularly concerned about remote communities with low vaccination rates.
On January 22, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service delivered 805 vaccine doses.
CHHHS Covid vaccination program director Kelly Pollock said the child-friendly pop-up Pfizer clinic at the Pier shopping centre clinic was a success over its three days of operation.
“During the pop up clinic, 160 children aged 5-11 were vaccinated in a fun, welcoming and personalised clinic dedicated to our younger community members,” she said.
“The themed booths and face painting were a success.”
Queensland recorded 26,997 Covid-19 cases 20 deaths over the weekend, one of which was an unvaccinated person in their 30s.
Cairns and Hinterland recorded 1533 additional cases in a 48-hour period. Seventy-seven patients are in hospital and four are in ICU while 223 were in the virtual ward.
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Originally published as Why State Government is ruling out relaxed close contact requirements for hospo, tourism workers
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