Rockhampton court proceedings impacted after covid case in watch-house

Central Queensland’s Covid spread stretched to the Rockhampton courthouse on Thursday with reports of at least one covid positive case in the police watch-house.

Central Queensland’s Covid spread stretched to the Rockhampton courthouse on Thursday with reports of at least one covid positive case in the police watch-house.

People waiting for matters to be heard in Rockhampton Magistrates Court were forced to sit one seat apart or wait outside, while some defendants applying for bail appeared by phone from the watch-house.

Prior to this, anyone visiting the courthouse had to wear face masks as per the Queensland Government’s Covid rules, but the seating distancing had not been enforced since mid 2020.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said there was “Covid instances in the watch-house” and some defendants were still awaiting test results.

It is believed the Covid instance was discovered sometime after court started on Thursday with some lawyers, along with family members, seeing defendants in the watch-house and others by phone.

At least one of the defendants kept in the watch-house during their bail application had been arrested after alleged domestic violence offences.

Questions sent to the Queensland Police Service media unit resulted in no specific answers as to what was happening at the Rockhampton judicial facility.

The Morning Bulletin asked:

- We understand the exposure was discovered this morning, with some in the Rockhampton watch-house being seen by family and lawyers before the case was discovered. Can you determine what time the case was discovered?

- How many staff from the Rockhampton Police Station are currently isolating?

- How many staff and defendants have undergone tests and how many are outstanding as of 11am (Thursday)?

- How many people are currently housed in the watch-house?

- What measures are currently in place to help with staff operations while staff are isolating?

The QPS response was:

“Throughout the Covid-19 response in Queensland, police and partner agencies have been at the forefront of keeping our communities safe.

“With Covid-19 and the highly contagious Omicron variant spreading throughout Queensland, the QPS continues to monitor the situation closely and any impacts this may have on our workforce.

“The Service has well established Business Continuity Plans and the community can have full confidence in our service delivery during this situation.

“Our detailed planning incorporates various levels of response, with the Service able to escalate or de-escalate contingencies as they are required.

“Across the QPS a borderless model of policing has been implemented, making our workforce more agile and adaptable and not restricted by traditional policing boundaries.

“Resources from across a policing region, district or central command are easily able to be deployed to meet changing service requirements.

“Local police will continue to monitor and review resources across each area to ensure our ability to respond to urgent matters is not compromised.

“All police stations, including custodial arrangements remain operational in the Capricornia Police District.”