Chief Well being Officer Jeannette Younger mentioned testing clinics would stay open throughout Christmas and New Yr, however sufferers ought to examine their opening hours on the Queensland Well being web site.
Loading
“I’m involved that we do have the virus now in Queensland. Now we have seen these constructive sewage outcomes and we identified there are lots of people who’ve come again into Queensland from that northern seashores space and different components of Sydney,” she mentioned.
Well being officers have detected COVID-19 traces in wastewater outcomes at three new Queensland websites – Wynnum on Brisbane’s bayside, together with Bargara and Bundaberg, about 350 kilometres north.
It adopted earlier wastewater detections in Cairns, Townsville, the Gold Coast and Brisbane bayside suburb of Cleveland. They imply any individual who had the virus, doubtlessly weeks in the past, is shedding it.
Dr Younger mentioned Christmas hugs ought to solely be shared between shut household, apart from the aged.
Loading
“In case you are having Christmas Day along with your shut household, then you’re having loads of time with them, so you’ll be deeper shut contact, so sure, if that’s your regular custom, you’ll be able to hug your shut relations,” she mentioned.
Queensland’s borders will stay closed till a minimum of January 8.
The Australian Defence Pressure has refused to produce army personnel to assist native police patrol the interstate border checkpoints.
“Our police have been doing an unbelievable job however I do know, significantly Victoria and Queensland, would welcome any help from the ADF in serving to us handle these borders,” Ms D’Ath mentioned.
Loading
“Now we have seen folks making an attempt to return over our borders the place understanding that individuals are pissed off and eager to get into the state … For many who need to flaunt the legislation, there are fines for doing so, for these need to give us false data there are fines and we’ll implement these fines.”
Nearly 350 folks have been refused entry into Queensland because the laborious street border checkpoints on the NSW border have been reintroduced two days in the past.
Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler mentioned 159 automobiles had been turned away on the street border, containing 347 folks.
Greater than 379,000 border go purposes have been made because the border go system was reintroduced following the Sydney outbreak.
“Yesterday [Wednesday] on the M1 we noticed at 3pm a peak delay of about 90 minutes, in and across the Tweed again streets we’re seeing delays measured in hours, and that is unlucky,” he mentioned.
Superintendent Wheeler had sturdy phrases for folks abusing police at checkpoints, saying officers who had been rostered off for Christmas have been now working on the checkpoints.
“Keep in mind, loads of police we have now working right here have been going to have Christmas Break day, Boxing Break day, public holidays. They’ve been at this for 250 days straight. They’ve come again to try to assist, so they’re folks you’re abusing,” he mentioned.
The SES has additionally rejoined the checkpoints to ease strain on police.
Toby Crockford is a breaking information reporter on the Brisbane Occasions
Most Seen in Nationwide
Loading