Coronavirus QLD: State’s case total jumps by 60 to 319

Queensland will shut its borders from midnight Wednesday in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak after 60 new cases in the past 24 hours. New arrivals into Queensland will have to self quarantine for 14 days. FOLLOW OUR ROLLING UPDATES

QUEENSLAND’S border will be closed from midnight, Wednesday, it can be confirmed.

Anyone travelling into Queensland will be required to self quarantine for 14 days regardless if they are sick or not.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier announced Cabinet had resolved to close the state’s borders after a meeting

It’s understood freight will be exempt.

READ FULL DETAIL OF HOW IT WILL WORK HERE

The announcement caused fears the Queensland Government may inadvertently close down the NRL with its measures, hampering the ability of teams to travel. That was confirmed soon after with the NRL suspending the 2020 premiership season indefinitely.

The Courier-Mail has been told exemptions and further details, including how the border shutdown will impact on people who live and work either side of the Tweed border, will be announced tomorrow.

It’s understood the South Australian model will be closely considered.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said it was unacceptable for a leader to announce something as major as the closure of the state’s borders via Twitter with no detail

“Announcing policy via twitter without any detail is not the calm considered leadership Queenslanders want or need at this time,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Given other states announced their Border closures with details, it is unacceptable that the Labor government doesn’t have any details on how this will work or impact on people’s lives.”

PARENTS ON ALERT OVER NEW CASE

PARENTS from St Columba’s Primary School in Wilston have been alerted to a confirmed case of COVID-19 among them.

Acting principal Michelle Kneen sent out a letter today informing the school community that a parent had tested positive for the virus.

Parents were told the person was in isolation at home, along with other members of the family.

Queensland Health was undertaking contact tracing.

BIGGEST SPIKE YET: NEW QLD CASES JUMP 60 TO 319

QUEENSLAND has recorded its highest increase of coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, with 60 new cases confirmed overnight. One person has been placed in intensive case, the first since the outbreak began in Queensland.

Chief Health Officer of Queensland, Dr Jeanette Young, confirmed the increase to the state’s total number of cases to 319.

The State Government will consider whether Queensland should shut its domestic borders, with Cabinet to discuss the issue today.

Meanwhile Education Minister Grace Grace said schools will remain open until April 3 when the Easter break begins.

It comes despite NSW this morning urging parents to keep their children home while Victoria will close schools from tomorrow.

“However parents can choose whether or not they wish to send their children to school,” Ms Grace said.

If parents do keep their children home, they must advise the school, ensure they continue with online learning materials and ensure they’re practicing social distancing.

A patient diagnosed with coronavirus has been placed in ICU – the first since the outbreak in Queensland.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said while normal work was continuing in hospitals, some patients may be alerted of changes to their elective surgeries.

She urged people who regularly donate blood to keep donating after the Red Cross reported decreased numbers.

Despite the large surge in cases overnight, Dr Young said “this is where I’d thought we would be”. “We know we’re going to get those increased cases,” she said.

QLD SCHOOLS TO BE PUPIL-FREE FROM MONDAY

Health Minister Steven Miles said Queensland Health was in the process of contacting residents who were on four cruise ships that recently arrived in Sydney, after several people tested positive for COVID-19.

“They (Queenslanders on the ships) will all be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said more tough love measures would be rolled out in coming weeks with a funding package expected to be announced tomorrow.

QAGOMA TO CLOSE FROM TODAY

THEY held out for as long as they could but it has been announced that both the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art have temporarily closed to the public from 12 noon Monday, 23 March until further notice.

The decision follows the Prime Minister’s announcement on March 22 of additional action to support social distancing measures and advice for all non-essential services to close in order to minimise the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallery staff are working to update online content while the galleries are closed.

ELITE GIRLS’ SCHOOL CLOSED AFTER PARENTS TEST POSITIVE

ST Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane will be closed today after three parents tested positive to COVID-19 over the weekend.

The school will be closed to students however teachers will be on site finalising their online learning plans today.

The school will confirm later today whether it will open or remain closed tomorrow.

It comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed schools across the state would remain open.

A long queue forms outside Centrelink at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast following the Federal Government's announcement on mass business closures. Picture: Greg Stolz

QUEUES AROUND BLOCK AT COAST CENTRELINK

LARGE queues are forming at Centrelink after the mass closure of businesses was ordered by Scott Morrison.

A line of people waiting for Centrelink at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast to open on Monday morning stretched an entire block.

The Coast will be hard hit by the COVID-19 business closures, with tens of thousands of locals employed in the hospitality industry including clubs, pubs and cafes.

Mr Morrison has ordered many businesses to close by noon on Monday.

The queues coincide with the MyGov website crashing around the country.

The government’s central hub for all benefits including unemployment has been unavailable for most of the morning.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience,” a message on the homepage says.

A spokesman for Government Services Minister Stuart Robert said MyGov was working but “the best option right now is for people to be patient”.

“There is unprecedented demand for the MyGov service right now, but we ask Australians to be patient as we work hard to help them all,” he said.

“Try logging on later today or even tomorrow.”

BROOKFIELD STATE SCHOOL PARENT TESTS POSITIVE

A PARENT with children at a state school in the western suburbs has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Parents of Brookfield Sate School have been told a parent had tested positively for COVID-19.

“The children of that family are well are being isolated,” a statement from the school principal Cate Whiting said.

“While we do not currently have any confirmed cases at our school I will alert the school community immediately should this change.

“I want to assure you we are following the strict advice from Queensland Health and we will continue to monitor all staff and students as we continue through this prolonged event.”

PM: HARDEST YEAR OF OUR LIVES

THE coronavirus pandemic will make 2020 the hardest year of many Australians’ lives, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

As Federal Parliament cleared its schedule to focus on stimulus packages, Mr Morrison warned thousands of Australians would lose their jobs and many were already lining up at Centrelinks around the country.

“The coronavirus that is sweeping the world will continue to change the way we live,” he said. “But we must not allow it to change who we are as Australians. I know – we all know – that Australians are very concerned at this difficult time. It is the understandable fear of the unknown and there is much that is not known about the coronavirus but we must not let that fear overtake us. We must focus instead on what we do know, what we can control.

Mr Morrison said the pandemic was the biggest challenge facing Australia since World War II.

“We know who we are as a people. And the legacy and inspiration that has been given to us from those who have come before us and shown us the way through challenges and tests just like this. So we summon the spirit of the Anzacs, of our great Depression generation, of those who built the Snowy, of those who won the great peace of World War II and defended Australia. That is our legacy that we draw on at this time.”

Originally published as Coronavirus QLD: State’s case total jumps by 60 to 319