Gold Coast Covid: Restrictions, lockdowns, masks, vaccines - what you need to know
It’s worked in the US but it seems Gold Coasters aren’t as convinced that offering incentives for getting the Covid vaccine is the way to go. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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IT’S worked in the US but it seems Gold Coasters aren’t as convinced that offering incentives for getting the Covid vaccine is the way to go.
WE ASKED ONLINE: Would you like to see incentives for people to get the Covid vaccines? Here are some of the responses.
JASMINE NORRIS: All I want to see is for these trial vaccines to not be mandatory for keeping your job.
SHERRI PRIOR: If Australians were told they couldn’t go to any football match, any code, any grade from juniors to professional then more than half the country would be vaccinated by now…
MELANIE JARICK: Why should we need incentives? We have free choice and should be allowed to choose to vaccinate. There is never 100 per cent guarantee with any vaccination so why do we ask for one now? If you choose not to get vaccinated then you cannot travel overseas etc without paying for quarantine on arrival home. If you get sick from Covid then you pay the medical expenses to get better etc. It is a choice but the rest of society that chooses to get vaccinated should be allowed to live freely and get the economy back and running again.
DAVID CATTELL: It’s time for the government to offer a national lottery. Everyone who has had a recent Covid test can buy a ticket, whilst everyone who has been vaccinated gets their ticket free. In the grand scheme of the overall economy, it’ll be a cheap way for the government to motivate a lot of people to line up and roll up their sleeves.
DEBORAH CHARLESTON: No. Getting the vaccine is a medical decision that should be made based on information not an incentive. If you want to increase vaccine rates give people a choice of vaccine and information to help them decide what is best for them
TONY HELE: I would like people to be penalised for not being vaccinated
WAYNE BRAND: Allow over 60s access to the Pfizer vaccine for a start, then you’ll probably find no form of coercion is necessary.
JAMIE GREEN: Incentives, you mean black mail? Must be so good if they have to coerce you with money and donuts to get it.
MARCELO BITTENCOURT: Give us 500 each and a few schooners, that should do the job!
DANIEL CECIL: Pay our sick leave till we go back to work cause nearly everyone gets sick when they get the jab.
MATTHEW FARTHING: The incentive should be you’re allowed into venues, retailers public transport public services etc. If not, treat the non-vaxers like smokers - 10 metres away in shitty areas next to pubs away from other patrons.
CAROLINA ROBINSON: No … we should have the right to choose … nobody should force to it.
ISABELLA SARAH: Incentives? More like bribery
MAYOR’S BEACH STANCE - July 1
MAYOR Tom Tate has ruled out closing the Gold Coast’s beaches while the city is locked down.
Queensland police said at a press conference on Thursday morning that barricades could be put up on some southeast beaches to prevent people flouting lockdown regulations by going sunbathing.
“It’s really quite clear, the purposes why people can leave their residences. Going to lie on the beach and get a sun tan is not one of them.” Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski.
But Cr Tate, who closed beaches in April last year at the height of the first Covid lockdown, said there would be no repeat this time..
“I need to make that clear: beaches will not be closing,” he said.
“I respect the police in their efforts to ensure compliance with mask rules and I note the comments this morning at the Premier’s live update.
“Community transmission numbers appear to be extremely low and the Premier will make a decision regarding our three-day lockdown tomorrow morning.”
However, Cr Tate did warn that locals visiting the beach should only do so for exercise.
“Beaches are open now for exercise purposes - not sun baking or socialising. Abide by the rules and we will come out of this lockdown,” he said.
“The key actions Gold Coasters can do are: wear masks whenever outside the home; only move about the community for approved reasons; get tested and self isolate if you have any symptoms; get vaccinated and observe all social distancing rules.”
‘Quite rude’: Gold Coast mask rebels continue defiance - June 30
GOLD Coasters are still refusing to mask up, with a northern Gold Coast petrol station worker having to ask customers to wear one.
On Wednesday afternoon at 7-Eleven Gaven, a mask wearing customer noticed that only half of the six others in the store had masks on.
“I felt sorry for the checkout operator, she was having to ask people to wear a mask and was getting some not-so-nice responses from people,” said the person.
“The people without masks were quite rude and told her they didn’t have one.”
It comes as more than 60 per cent of Bulletin readers voted that there should be tougher penalties for not wearing a mask.
Earlier Mayor Tom Tate blasted Gold Coasters for defying mask rules on the first day of the snap lockdown.
A furious Cr Tate said every Gold Coaster had to make just one positive choice to save the city’s 66,000 small businesses - wear a mask or risk a $200 fine.
Cr Tate said not wearing a mask was a sign of disrespect towards fellow Gold Coasters struggling with the lockdown.
“The vast majority of residents are doing the right thing but I am staggered to hear of people in coffee shops, at hardware stores and sitting side-by-side in pedestrian malls without a mask,” he said.
“The Premier announced a three-day lockdown so we can hopefully stop this latest outbreak before it becomes widespread.
“Overnight, there has been three additional Queensland cases - none on the coast.
“I know masks may feel uncomfortable for some and they may seem like an inconvenience to others but think of the small businesses who have their entire livelihoods on the line. It’s about respect and manners.”
Premier Annasticia Palaszczuk also took a swipe at Gold Coasters not wearing masks on the first morning of the three-day lockdown.
Ms Palaszczuk, speaking from Brisbane this morning, congratulated people across the southeast and Townsville for wearing masks but admitted the Gold Coast had left something to be desired.
“I really want to thank businesses across the southeast and Townsville for doing the right thing,” she said.
“Can I also give a shoutout as well to masks. If you are out you must have your mask on.
“We have some reports on the Gold Coast that people are not wearing their masks. It is mandatory so please ensure you are doing that unless you are exercising by yourself.”
Coast GP ‘surprised’ at lockdown, sends ‘hug’ to ‘frustrated’ locals
MEDICAL experts are pleading with Gold Coasters to “stay home, stay well and get vaccinated” as the city navigates through its first Covid lockdown in over a year.
Burleigh Cove Respiratory Clinic medical group director Heather McLellan-Johnson said her team had been “been waiting” for the lockdown because the clusters involved the highly contagious Delta strain.
“If we can get everyone locked down really fast we can get everyone out of lockdown faster,” she said.
“As long as there’s no spread, we can go back to normal. Stay home, stay well and get vaccinated.”
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS
Ms McLellan-Johnson said Covid testing numbers at her clinic had nearly tripled since last week, from 40 to 130 people on Monday. Vaccination rates were also increasing as the medical centre awaited the Pfizer vaccine in mid-late July.
“Stay home, stay well, get vaccinated,” she said.
For a full list of testing locations, including private and drive through clinics visit qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed
Dr Sonu Haikerwal, who has been at the coalface of the Gold Coast’s community Covid response since early 2020, said she was surprised at the lockdown on the back of no community transmission and felt “sad” for residents.
“I want to give a hug to the Gold Coast community, I absolutely sense the absolute frustration and distress of people who are already burnt out,” said the owner of the Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic.
“We must consider the fragility of the general population and the morale of the business community, and with school holidays just starting, so many people are going to miss out on much-needed respite.
‘There’s very little left in the tank. They’re exhausted, they’re fatigued and their frustrated.”
Dr Haikerwal said concerned residents hit the phones after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced GPs would be offered medical indemnity insurance under a national scheme if they provided the AstraZeneca vaccine to under 60s.
When asked directly if under 40s could get the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, Mr Morrison said:
“To get access to AstraZeneca, if they’re willing to take on that risk, if they wish to go and speak to their job or their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so. So the answer is yes, they can go and do that.”
But Dr Haikerwal said the new messaging was confusing for residents, particularly since it was recently announced that the Pfizer vaccine was recommended for under 60s.
“We have had to upgrade our phone system, we now have 21 phone lines because our receptionists are fielding so many calls from confused and concerned Gold Coasters,” she said.
“GPs are the ones who should be helping patients make a decision on which vaccination to have. The messaging needs to be get vaccinated so we can argue a case down the track for fewer lockdowns.”
She also disagrees with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s call to cull international arrivals, saying Queensland needed to be creating a long-term solution that didn’t involve “shutting stranded Australians out”.
“It’s not the solution, you can just shut more and more people out. We have to be brave enough to say ‘how do we take up the challenge’ and get our people home while not locking down,” she said.
General Practice Gold Coast board chair Dr Kat McLean said she “absolutely” supported the lockdown given the current risk.
“We have multiple outbreaks and with low levels of immunisation we have an incredibly vulnerable community,” she said.
“I know it’s exceedingly hard with the timing corresponding with school holidays, but acting quickly will reduce the total duration of time needed. “
Robina GP and General Practice Gold Coast member Dr Lisa Beecham said the public health measure was “absolutely important as the new Delta variant is highly infectious even with minimal contact”.
She urged residents with any respiratory symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested at fever clinic or respiratory clinic or through a pathology centre.
“Do not go to your GP if even slightly unwell with temp sore throat or headache or cough or runny nose or diarrhoea.
“If you’re unwell, use telehealth or see respiratory clinics so our frontline health workers don’t get sick.
“These measures are so important and we’re in this together. Wear a mask, wipe shopping trolleys, socially distance and leave some toilet paper on the shelves.
“Look after your family and neighbours and encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coasters are being urged to continue donating blood and plasma during the three-day lockdown because it’s considered an essential service.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokeswoman Belinda Smetioukh said donating remained “absolutely vital and is one of the reasons you’re allowed to leave the house”.
“Our donor centres are open and safe. In addition to our already strong eligibility and hygiene protocols, we have implemented a wide range of additional measures.
“Lockdowns don’t stop the need for blood, there are patients in hospital who need blood and are relying on people to donate.
Immediately following Victoria’s lockdown announcement on 27 May, Lifeblood saw more than 45 per cent of Victorian donation bookings cancelled.
“Our donor centres remain places of wellness, and we need your help to keep Australia’s lifeblood flowing,” she said.
To book visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the Donate Blood app.
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