Coronavirus QLD: Updates on the latest stories impacting the Sunshine State
Queensland has recorded 40 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the state’s total to 184. It follows a record increase of 50 yesterday. GET THE LATEST COVID-19 NEWS
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QUEENSLAND has recorded another 40 cases of COVID-19 taking the state’s tally to 184.
Most of the new cases have been in the Brisbane region with 25.
The Gold Coast has recorded another nine cases and there’s been another three on the Sunshine Coast.
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Queensland’s 144 coronavirus cases breakdown
Mackay has had one new case and Wide Bay has had one.
Queensland Health said the majority of the new cases have been people who have travelled overseas or had direct contact with someone who has travelled overseas.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL AND COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF QLD CASES
PRISON VISITS BANNED
PRISON visits have been banned across Australia to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The ban stopping family and friends visiting thousands of Queensland prisoners will come into effect on Monday.
Phone access for prisoners will be increased.
A Queensland Corrective Services statement said the joint decision was made following a national cabinet meeting today.
“Individual jurisdictions will decide when the new measure will be introduced based on their operational needs, with the suspension to begin in Queensland on Monday 23 March 2020,” a statement said.
“This decision has not been made lightly and responds to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and state and federal health measures.
“We understand the importance of family and community connections to both the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, and to families and friends.
“Which is why we are increasing phone access for prisoners where possible and appropriate, and are also encouraging them to write letters.”
AUTHORITIES EXPECTED SPIKE IN CASES
CHIEF Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said authorities had expected the current spike in positive coronavirus cases and warned self-isolation of at-risk people was critical to slow the spread.
He said the government knew there would be a “bit of a delay” between the ramping up of social-distancing requirements last week and the spike in cases recorded around the country in the past few days.
Many of the new cases were “imported” from other countries, he said, so it was critical that any Australians returning home as the borders close to foreigners at 8pm tonight, self-isolated.
“This is your civic duty to your fellow Australians to stay home for that entire 14 days, if you’ve come back to Australia - no exceptions,” he said.
“And if you see anyone who is not abiding by that, a recent traveller, make sure they do because we are really serious about that. It is such a big impact on our outbreaks in the last few days.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also flagged the National Cabinet was looking at ways to implement localised lock-downs of areas recording spikes in coronavirus cases.
“There will be, as we have already seen, parts of cities or places that will be more susceptible because of quite localised outbreaks,” he said.
“What we’ve asked for advice on is the density of those cases, how many cases in a particular area, that triggers actions over and above what these general rules that apply to those areas, and that would be staged up according to the level of that outbreak and what needs to be done wherever possible to shut that down.”
He also said there would likely be changes to domestic travel advice next week before school holidays kicked into gear.
TRIBUNAL’S TOUGH NEW CORONAVIRUS RULES
ANYONE attending hearings at a Queensland tribunal next week will have to provide written confirmation that they have had no COVID-19 exposure.
The strict new rules will apply to anyone attending Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings, including parties, witnesses and other members of the public.
Before going into hearings in Brisbane from Monday, people will have to provide written confirmation that they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19.
They also must say they have not been required to have a COVID-19 test and they have not been in close contact with someone who has the virus and is required to self-quarantine.
They also must confirm that they are not suffering any symptoms of the virus and they have not returned from overseas within the preceding 14 days.
Each person will be asked to make the written declaration and provide their name, address and phone number.
People have been encouraged not to personally attend the tribunal, if possible.
The new directions from QCAT President Justice Martin Daubney do not apply to those attending tribunal hearings in Magistrates Courts, which have their own attendance guidelines.
Only urgent minor civil dispute hearings and guardianship hearings will go ahead, with other non-urgent cases adjourned and all directions hearings and compulsory conferences heard by phone.
The new QCAT attendance rules go well beyond what Queensland and Federal courts currently require, although all are trying to limit personal attendance at courts.
“The changes are aimed at reducing the risk of spread of the virus by appropriately limiting public access to QCAT’s premises, and ensuring that no one who has been exposed to COVID enters QCAT premises – both in the interests of members and registry staff and of the persons otherwise attending at QCAT,” the tribunal said.
COURTS SUSPEND ALL CORONIAL INQUESTS
QUEENSLAND Courts have announced that all coronial inquests scheduled in Brisbane up until June 30 will be adjourned amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Scheduled inquests in other locations across the State will also be adjourned to a date to be fixed after July 2020 unless the coroner is satisfied that safe social distancing practices can be achieved within the courtroom.
The court will continue to finalise findings and deal with any applications as necessary by telephone or video-link.
POLICE RECRUITS TO BE FAST TRACKED
IN AN unprecedented measure, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has today announced Queensland’s upcoming police recruits will be fast tracked through the system to take some of the strain off the Service amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the first decision made of it’s kind, recruits will not complete their full training and instead graduate nearly two weeks early, finalising their training today instead of the pre arranged date of April 2.
Commissioner Carroll said she did not make the decision lightly, however felt it was the right action to take given the current climate.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly by the leadership of the Queensland Police Service,” she said in a statement.
CORONAVIRUS CLAIMS CMC ROCKS
CMC Rocks is the latest Queensland event to be axed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Despite initially hoping to postpone the 2020 event, which was due to take place in Willowbank this weekend, organisers have today announced they are pulling the pin.
“Despite our very best efforts to move CMC Rocks QLD to later in the year, we have had to make the incredibly difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event altogether,” organisers said in a statement.
“As you can imagine, we are beyond disappointed for everyone involved; our artists, suppliers, staff and team, but most of all our loyal fans. With no certainty in the current climate, and the situation changing daily, we are unable to deliver the festival we’d like for our CMC Rocks family this year.”
Tickets to the event and campsites will be transferred over to the 2021 event, which will feature a new artist line up.
The dates are yet to be confirmed.
Those who can’t attend next year’s event will be offered a refund and will be informed when that option becomes available.
“Due to the large number of refunds being processed across the industry, refunds are expected to take slightly longer than usual,” organisers said.
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