Tweed nurse isolating after run-in with Covid-19 patient in hospital emergency department
The health district overseeing the Tweed has responded to claims an unvaccinated traveller was placed into an induced coma in Tweed Hospital after contracting the coronavirus.
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A Covid-POSITIVE traveller has been admitted to a hospital intensive care unit close to the Gold Coast southern border, with a medical staffer who came in contact having to isolate.
The Northern NSW Local Health District said two Covid-19 patients were being cared for in northern NSW hospitals, including one in ICU.
It came after a source claimed an unvaccinated traveller was placed into an induced coma in Tweed Hospital after contracting Covid-19.
The vaccination status of the ICU patient was not clear.
The source raised concerns about the case in the local government area bordering Queensland.
He claimed the man who travelled north from Sydney or Newcastle had a coughing fit as he sought help at the hospital’s emergency department, forcing an unspecified number of workers to isolate.
He said the man – who was admitted to Tweed Hospital on Saturday morning and placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) – had “rushed through the front door and collapsed”.
“He coughed all over the nursing staff who rushed to his aid and they all have to isolate for 14 days now,” he claimed.
The health service was approached for comment, with all available details put to a spokesperson.
In a response, the health service stated: “There are currently two Covid-positive patients being cared for in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU”.
“One staff member at The Tweed Hospital is isolating after recently coming into contact with a Covid-positive patient in the emergency department. This staff member is fully vaccinated.
“Patients, visitors and staff at health facilities in northern NSW are currently required to wear a mask while on site, with clinical staff wearing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate.”
The health service urged anyone who felt unwell and had symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested as soon as possible.
“If presenting to an emergency department rather than a dedicated Covid-19 testing clinic, we encourage people to phone ahead if possible to alert the facility of their arrival,” the statement read.
It comes as Queensland edges closer to easing its border blockade with NSW in mid-December.
Northern NSW Local Health District CEO Wayne Jones previously said about 20 per cent of patients using Tweed Hospital and almost 40 per cent of staff live in Queensland.
Gold Coast Titans to back Super Schools vax blitz
Earlier: Queensland has recorded no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and one overseas case as the state‘s vaccination rate continues to climb.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the single new case detected in hotel quarantine while speaking in state parliament on Wednesday morning.
It was also revealed sports stars including the Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos will be on-board to support the Queensland government’s Super Schools vaccination blitz, which will see schools transform into jab centres yet again this weekend.
She said 82.75 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received their first coronavirus vaccine and 71.07 per cent had been double-dosed.
Queensland Health carried out 14,432 vaccinations in the past 24 hours, with the most jabs occurring in Townsville.
Ms Palaszczuk was pleased 10,871 tests had been performed by Queensland Health in the previous 24 hours.
She said it was “great” that “people are still going out and getting tested, despite the low number of virus cases in Queensland.
“The Covid pandemic is the greatest peacetime challenge this country has ever faced,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It is not a matter of if more cases will come to Queensland, but when.
“Unlike southern states we have the ability to protect ourselves before an outbreak arrives.”
The government has been pushing Coast residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible, ahead of border restrictions easing further on December 17.
Super Schools weekend to boost lagging Coast vax rate
November 16: Queensland has recorded no new Covid-19 cases as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to urge Gold Coast residents to help boost the city’s lagging vaccination rate.
Speaking in Queensland parliament on Tuesday morning, Ms Palaszczuk announced a “double doughnut day” with no new local or overseas acquired coronavirus cases.
She said 82.29 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received one dose of a vaccine and 70.54 per cent were double-dosed.
Ms Palaszczuk also said another “Super Schools weekend” vaccination drive would be held on Saturday and Sunday across the state to help boost vaccination rates.
At least one hub will take shape in Southport, but Ms Palaszczuk said more information would be released on participating schools.
She urged anyone hesitant to get the jab to “talk to their trusted, local family GP”.
“They are there to listen and put your mind at ease,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said 14,112 vaccinations and 7999 tests had been carried out by Queensland Health in the previous 24 hours.
She spoke of a "world-leading result” managing the virus in Queensland and said the state was going “from strength to strength”.
“Our children are at school, their parents are at work and our state is safe,” she said.
“This government went on a vaccination drive and the results are speaking for themselves.”
Ms Palaszczuk’s tough stance on border restrictions and other preventive measures have been criticised by some, particularly residents dealing with the border blockade.
She said there had been a considerable lift in vaccination rates in parts of regional Queensland, but that has not occurred on the Coast.
Border restrictions are due to ease further on December 17, but Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday “our date in December come forward a little bit” due to strong vaccination rates statewide.
There was 15 active Covid cases in Queensland.
On Monday, during a press conference on the Coast, Ms Palaszczuk said 78.8 per cent of Coast residents had received their first jab and 67.2 per cent were double-dosed.
‘On track’: Border rules may ease sooner than planned
November 15: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged an early easing of Covid-19 restrictions at the Queensland-New South Wales border if vaccinations continue at the current pace.
It comes as the state recorded no new locally acquired coronavirus cases and two new overseas cases detected in hotel quarantine.
Speaking at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast on Monday morning, Ms Palaszczuk said the state would welcome Queenslanders and interstate residents arriving from hot spots by air to quarantine at home for 14 days from 5pm, if they had tested negative.
The travellers can fly into regional airports, as well as Brisbane Airport.
“Now we’ll be welcoming people from hot spots who are fully vaccinated to come into Queensland and isolate at home with a negative test,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
It came after the state hit its 70 per cent double vaccination target.
Newly updated border passes will be available online from 5pm on Monday.
Ms Palaszczuk said the further easing of border restrictions due on December 17 could happen earlier if eligible Queensland residents continue to come forward in numbers for the jab.
“That’s (the 70 per cent target) come in earlier than expected … we may even see our date in December come forward a little bit as well,” she said.
She said the state was “on track” but she did not “want to get my hopes up”.
Meanwhile, Ms Palaszczuk said the Coast was lagging behind the state average vaccination rate and she urged residents to get jabbed as soon as possible.
“The Gold Coast (is) sitting just under the state average. Along the coastal strips, the vaccination (rate) is quite good, but once we get into the hinterland areas, the vaccination rates are lower than what we would like,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said 81.99 per cent of eligible Queensland resident had received their first vaccination and 70.25 per cent were double-dosed.
On the Coast, 78.8 per cent had received their first jab and 67.2 per cent were double-dosed.
Questioned by reporters about the state’s strict and ongoing virus restrictions, despite the increasing vaccination rate, Ms Palaszczuk said the rules were to “keeping Queenslanders safe” and she would “make no apology”.
“The last thing I want to see is a large Delta outbreak before Christmas when our vaccination levels aren’t as high as NSW and Victoria,” she said.
“If we get more people vaccinated it puts us, I believe, in a world class position.”
Two new coronavirus cases were detected on the Coast last week, but no new cases have been revealed in the city since then.
Acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken said: “We are still watching the Gold Coast and we would encourage everyone, if you had symptoms in the Gold Coast, please come forward and get tested.
Queensland Health had carried out 16,985 vaccinations in the previous 24 hours.
On Sunday, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said Queensland had recorded no new Covid-19 cases.
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