Coronavirus QLD: Updates on the latest stories impacting the Sunshine State

The Queensland Government says school cleaning will be stepped up a gear to combat the spread of COVID-19. These are the guidelines schools must now follow.

THE Palaszczuk Government has announced cleaning in schools will be stepped up to combat the COVID-19 virus.

Education Minister Grace Grace said schools would now be provided with additional resources to enable progressive cleaning across the course of the day.

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“The role our hard-working cleaning staff play in helping to manage this public health issue is vital,” she said.

“The health, wellbeing and safety of our staff and students is our highest priority throughout this crisis.”

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Minister Grace said late on Thursday the Department of Education ordered for extended and additional cleaning to commence in all schools.

“We are taking immediate action because there is nothing more important than keeping our students and staff safe,” she said.

“This additional cleaning will focus on the high touch points in schools and will happen throughout the day to ensure the risks of transmission are reduced.

“We will continue to work with suppliers to ensure schools have access to adequate cleaning and hygiene supplies such as soap, sanitizer, disinfectant.”

Schools are being asked to follow the below protocols when cleaning:

* use disposable microfibre cleaning cloths or, wash or change micro-fibre cloths daily and avoid re-using cloths across multiple surfaces

* use a general cleaner and follow with a disinfectant such as Q-sol, Peersol or S-Clean for precautionary cleans

* pay extra attention to high touch point surfaces such as door handles, light switches, desks, toilets, taps and sinks and use bleach/disinfectant solutions where appropriate for heightened cleanliness

* allow rooms to be exposed to sunlight and be well-ventilated.

PRIVATE GIRLS’ SCHOOL DEALS WITH CORONAVIRUS CASE

A Somerville House student is in isolation after a family member returned to Australia after an overseas trip and was diagnosed with coronavirus.

The effected family began self-isolating when they became aware of the possibility their relation could have COVID-19.

Somerville House principal Mrs Kim Kiepe said the family was working closely with Queensland Health.

“We believe the family are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that there is no risk to our other students,” Mrs Kiepe said.

“As a school community, we are monitoring the advice from the Australian Government and health authorities daily and will adhere to the direction provided to all schools,” she said.

“These are unprecedented times, and we must work together to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of our school community.”

The school’s crisis management team are prioritising how Somerville continues to support student learning as the coronavirus pandemic evolves.

“There is much valuable work being undertaken at Somerville House at present to prepare for all possible scenarios, and this is placing us in the very best position to continue to support our students in the coming weeks,”Ms Kiepe said.

QUT REPORTS FIRST COVID-19 CASE

A Business student at the Queensland University of Technology has returned a positive test for COVID-19 with the tertiary institution informed this afternoon.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil wished the student a quick recovery and offered the university’s support in a statement.

‘The student is enrolled in the QUT Business School and was on QUT’s Gardens Point Campus on 13 March between 10am and 11am,” she said.

“The lecture theatre attended by the student is being thoroughly disinfected and cleaned overnight.

The Queensland University of Technology has had its first case of coronavirus.

“Queensland Health advised that the student’s contact with other students was considered as casual.

The spokeswoman Queensland Health advised that the student’s contact with other students was considered as casual.

She said that the advice said a “casual contact” was someone who has been in the same general area as a person with coronavirus infection while that person was infectious.

It includes; those with less than 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a symptomatic case in any setting; or those who shared a closed space such as a room with a symptomatic confirmed case for less than 2 hours.

“As a measure of caution QUT has contacted all 186 students who may have been in the same class as the student but the actual number in attendance was about 50,” she said.

“One staff member who had also had potential contact with the student has been advised.”

HOW LONG UNTIL WE GET $1 PETROL

GLOBAL oil prices have hit 17-year lows, but it could take a while for the prices to trickle through to the browser.

The Brent price this morning fell to $24.88 a barrel, the lowest since 2003, equating to prices of between $1 and $1.10 a litre for motorists.

But RACQ spokesman Paul Turner warned drivers that servos were jacking up prices in line with the state’s fuel price cycle.

“More than one-third of sites in Brisbane have moved their prices to a 154.9cpl or higher, which is simply too high and if drivers see this price they should keep driving past,” Mr Turner said.

He said over half of Brisbane’s servos were still cheap, and urged motorists to fill up now for under $1.20 a litre.

“We have a long way to go before we hit the next cheap phase,” Mr Turner said.

“When we do, given the recent falls in oil price, we’d expect average prices to bottom out in the 100 to 110 cents-per-litre range, however that’s still three to four weeks away.”

Triathlete tests positive

A PARTICIPANT from the Mooloolaba Triathlon has tested positive for COVID-19, following the event.

A medical official at Sunshine Coast Public Health notified race officials the competitor had the virus.

The event was held last Sunday, a day before the Federal Government restricted gatherings to no more than 500 people.

“The official informed us that the athlete had no symptoms at the event, and that there was a very low risk of transmission at the event,” an IRONMAN Events Oceania letter to athletes said.

Mooloolaba Triathlon competitors in action

How life will change in state’s prisons

PRISON gyms could turned into extra accommodation, as the state ramps up its planning for a coronavirus outbreak at one of its major jails.

Brisbane Correctional Centre staff have already been told visitors to the jail with flu symptoms are to be turned away immediately.

But they also believe amendments will be made to their gym, as iron-pumping inmates make way for correctional officers to sleep in the facility during a potential two-week lockdown.

Extra beds and linen are also being brought in.

If a lockdown occurs, staff would not be allowed to leave for two weeks, they have been told.

"It hasn't been communicated to us yet, but I believe they got extra beds, linen, and are fixing up the gym just in case," one source told The Courier-Mail.

"It's the biggest space to house or bed staff if the prison goes into lockdown.

"If we get corona, we go into lockdown as far as I know."

Queensland Corrective Services said several prison officers and inmates had been tested for COVID-19 but it was not aware of any positive results.

According to briefings provided to Together Union contingency plans include dealing with reduced staffing.

This could see a staged reduction in operations down to minimum levels of staff required for feeding and medicating inmates.

Procedures to deal with outbreaks in prisons are also in development.

A Corrective Services spokeswoman said officer safety was a top priority.

“All of our centres have reviewed and tested their business continuity plans, and we have developed concepts of operations for every part of our agency,” she said.

“The safety and security of our prisons is an absolute priority, and we have put significant effort into developing contingency planning to ensure this.”

Restrictions on visits include people who have travelled overseas in the last fortnight or have been in close contact with someone who has.

NEW HOPE FOR DOCTORS STRANDED ON CRUISE SHIP

THE cruise ship stranded off the coast of Chile carrying some of Queensland’s leading doctors has reportedly set sail for the Falkland Islands in the hope the British government can help to bring them home.

More than 100 Australian doctors and dentists, including almost 30 Queensland physicians, have been on a medical conference-cruise on board the MS Roald Amundsen, which hit stormy waters when the Chilean government blocked its return to port following the emergency travel bans sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

After floating off the coast of Chile for three days, the ship is now reportedly heading to the Falklands – a British territory off the coast of Argentina.

It is hoped Australia’s ties with Britain will help fast-track the return of the doctors to Australia.

Many of the Queensland doctors on board are directly involved in coronavirus response teams at some of the state’s biggest hospitals and health services.

Passengers on board have been told not to talk to media and a spokesperson for cruise ship company Hurtigruten said they were unable to comment on the latest developments.