Toowoomba’s COVID-19 case ‘doing the right thing’

TOOWOOMBA Mayor Paul Antonio has moved to reassure the community the region’s one active case of COVID-19 is doing the right thing.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio.

TOOWOOMBA Mayor Paul Antonio has moved to reassure the community the region’s one active case of COVID-19 is doing the right thing.

The man, in his 20s, returned to Australia from Kabul, Afghanistan last week, flying from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast on a Jetstar flight, before his wife drove him home to Toowoomba, where he tested positive to COVID-19.

“He’s being looked after by the COVID home hospital support group,” Cr Antonio said.

“He would be being monitored very closely.

“Anyone whose been through what he’s been through I’m sure would be happy to spend a few weeks in their own home with their family.

“He is being particularly well looked after and monitored.”

The man was originally labelled a consular worker by health authorities, but DFAT clarified on Monday night he was a private security contractor.

At the time consular officials were exempt from having to undertake hotel quarantine across Australia.

This exemption was revoked in Queensland on Tuesday nigh as a result of this case.

Police confirmed yesterday they had “no concerns” over the actions of the man and they had verified all documents used by the man in his application for an exemption from hotel quarantine.

Cr Antonio said he hoped this would be Toowoomba’s last case of COVID-19.

“The important thing is to, on behalf of community, express my gratitude to those health practitioners who are at the very cutting edge of all of this,” he said.

“And to our friends in the police force who have a very big role to play in monitoring people coming and going in and out of Queensland.”

Earlier this week Cr Antonio called for calm within the community about this case.

“I understand the concern in the community, but when you examine the facts behind this, I cannot blame the person involved,” Cr Antonio said at the time.

“I’m sad that this has happened in Toowoomba and had an impact on us, but be assured that everything that can be done is being done by health professionals and by the police in our area.

“I’m very confident that this is something that will not have any big impact on Toowoomba.”