Premier issues heartfelt plea to Queenslanders to stay calm and get tested
Annastacia Palaszczuk has thanked Queenslanders for rising to the lockdown challenge but says the battle is not yet won.
Opinion
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Once again we find ourselves battling this dreadful pandemic.
As if the usual strain wasn’t bad enough, now there’s a new one and it’s made Brisbane its first Australian battleground.
There is only one thing we know for sure about the UK version: it’s even more contagious.
That is why, on the Chief Health Officer’s advice, we are having this lockdown.
Having fought all year to keep this state safe from the pandemic, all of Australia is now watching us to see if we can be equally successful with this new strain.
I welcome the Prime Minister’s support for these measures and for the support of other states and territories.
If you want a cheer up, just read the messages on social media from Victorians. They know what we’re going through.
I am also grateful for the support of our mayors and business groups who acknowledge that a short, sharp lockdown is better for all of us than the pain of a prolonged one.
We can take heart from the fact that early signs are good.
People are heeding the call to stay home and, when they’re not at home, they’re wearing masks.
Police are out in force too, armed with 40,000 masks. They would much rather give you give you one of those than give you a fine. I thank the tens of thousands of people who have been tested.
Between government and private providers there are 178 testing clinics open across the southeast including one that will stay open 24 hours.
I urge anyone with even the mildest of symptoms to please go to one.
Queensland Health is monitoring any queues and directing extra resources to cut waiting times.
You should also be assured that there is no need to clean out your local supermarket. They will stay open just as they always do and you are allowed to use them just as you always have.
For those who have had party or wedding plans interrupted I am sorry but I would rather a temporary interruption than to be going through the devastation this virus is causing in other countries.
Queenslanders always rise to every challenge.
I know they will rise to this one.
What motivates Queenslanders the most is the way we care for one another.
It’s been proven time and time again.
This weekend marks 10 years since the last Brisbane flood. Although nature seems to come up with new ways to test us we will come through this one just as we did back then.
Please, get tested.
Stay calm. Stay strong. Let’s get through this.
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