Queensland Health has opened more coronavirus testing clinics to shorten long queues as authorities maintain a watch on virus outbreaks in southern states.
Key points:
- More coronavirus testing clinics have opened in Queensland after long queues on the weekend
- Border restrictions remain unchanged, though authorities are closely monitoring the situation
- New restrictions came into effect on Monday to limit access to "vulnerable" facilities
No change has been made to border restrictions even as more cases were reported on Monday in New South Wales and Victoria.
Five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland overnight — all in hotel quarantine, which Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said highlighted the importance of maintaining strict quarantine measures.
She said authorities would continue to "keep a very close eye" on outbreaks further south, but for now there would be no change in Queensland's border controls.
Meanwhile, Queensland authorities have boosted the number of fever clinics to cope with rising demand for tests.
On the weekend, health authorities urged anyone who'd been in Victoria since December 21 to get tested and quarantine until they received a negative result.
The call led to long queues at testing clinics, but Acting Premier Cameron Dick said on Monday that extra facilities had been added on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
"There'll always be some delays from time to time in getting testing, but we're seeing those queues being reduced and we're also getting test results back to people on average within 24 hours," Mr Dick said.
There are now 83 public fever clinics operating in Queensland, with longer operating hours and more staff, he said.
"We've got many more in the private sector that are operating," he added.
Dr Young thanked people for "persevering" amid lines at some fever clinics on Sunday, when more than 6,200 tests were conducted.
While there's been no change to border rules, new restrictions came into effect on Monday limiting access to "vulnerable" facilities in Queensland.
From 1am Monday, anyone who was in Victoria on or after December 21 is no longer allowed to visit hospitals, aged care, disability accommodation and correctional facilities.
Police poised to act on any border orders
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said authorities were monitoring the interstate COVID-19 situation "day by day" and were ready to enforce any border changes if required.
"We've been shown to be very flexible and agile at putting together border closures very quickly," she said.
She also said she was disappointed to see a tweet from Lyle Shelton, the former managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, stating he had done a "sneaky run across the border and back".
"He has been spoken to. He can cross the border, I understand he has a G Pass," she said.
"It was a funny tweet, which in the end is not really that funny because what you're doing is taking away resources that need to be in other places."
Police minister Mark Ryan added it was "smart Alec behaviour," which sidetracked officers' time and created a sense of confusion in the community.
He was also asked whether Queensland authorities would consider easing COVID hotel quarantine restrictions for the Indian Cricket team.
"Whether you're playing for India, or whether you're coming back from visiting family in another state, the rules apply equally," he said.
"The Chief Health Officer will be monitoring this situation; if she recommends a certain course of action then of course we will support that, but it is her call and we'll be waiting to hear her advice."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAxLTA0L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXF1ZWVuc2xhbmQtYm9yZGVyLXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy1hbm5vdW5jZWQtbnN3LXZpYy8xMzAyMDE2MNIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMzAyMDE2MA?oc=5
2021-01-04 07:29:00Z
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