4pm. See you tomorrow
That’s all from us today for the #ipswichtogether COVID-19 blog.
We’ll be back again tomorrow with more community information and updates.
See you then!
3.05pm. COVID-19 can’t stop Ipswich Hospice Mother’s Day stall
Ipswich Hospice Care has moved its Mother’s Day stall online in a bid to maintain COVID-19 restrictions while still raising funds for the organisation’s important community work.
The Ipswich Hospice Craft Group has a wonderful selection of gifts perfect for Mother’s Day and everyday. The range of gifts are all available via the Ipswich Hospice website, www.ipswichhospice.org.au/shop
Each purchase will be gift wrapped and delivered to your door.
Ipswich Hospice is a seven-bed community facility, providing quality end of life palliative care to terminally ill people, and support for their families in a caring home-like environment. Ipswich Hospice Care is a registered charitable organisation.
2.10pm. Recreation areas at dams to reopen
All Seqwater and Sunwater dams and recreation areas will re-open to the public for day use from Saturday, May 2, following a relaxation in guidelines from the Chief Health Officer.
Minister for Natural Resources Dr Anthony Lynham said public health and safety was the most important thing and with the easing of restrictions, Queenslanders will have some greater freedom to visit parks, dams and recreational areas managed by Seqwater and Sunwater.
“Lifting these restrictions will allow our dams and recreational areas to be opened for fishing, boating, picnics and other activities however barbecue facilities will remain closed,” he said.
“Queenslanders have been doing the right thing since the coronavirus lockdown measures were introduced, and it has shown through in how we have flattened the curve.
“However, we must continue to observe the Chief Health Officer’s guidelines for social distancing.”
All campgrounds, including those at Sunwater and Seqwater facilities, will also remain closed until further notice from the Chief Health Officer.
While swimming at Sunwater facilities will reopen, Seqwater is conducting testing and risk assessments and will endeavour to open swimming when it is appropriate to do so.
The decision to allow day access follows the easing of stay-at-home restrictions in national parks and other public areas.
Anyone visiting these sites will be subject to meeting current social distancing guidelines and the requirement to stay within 50 kilometres of their home.
Queensland Police Service can still issue on-the-spot fines for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
For full information on which areas are open to the public, visit seqwater.com.au or sunwater.com.au websites.
1pm. Heavy penalties to protect public officials and workers
Heavy penalties will apply for deliberately coughing, sneezing or spitting on officials and workers.
A new Public Health Direction clamps down on anyone who deliberately coughs, sneezes or spits on public officials and workers.
“We don’t want people harassing them and causing them distress in the workplace,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
The direction allows for a $1,335 immediate fine or a court ordered penalty of up to $13,345.
11.25am. New GP-led respiratory clinic opens for COVID-19 testing
A new GP-led respiratory clinic to test patients for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses is now open in the greater Ipswich area.
The Flinders Peak Medical Centre GP Respiratory Clinic is available to clinically assess people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms (a fever, cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat and/or unusual fatigue).
Respiratory clinics are being established as a part of the Australian Government Department of Health’s response to COVID-19 and Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN has been supporting this process locally in the Darling Downs and West Moreton region.
PHN CEO Merrilyn Strohfeldt said the clinics were available to anyone in the community who had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
“One of the key strategies to control COVID-19 in our communities is to detect new cases of the virus as early as possible to allow for contract tracing to minimise spread of the virus,” Ms Strohfeldt said.
The Flinders Peak Medical Centre GP Respiratory Clinic is located at 355 Ipswich Boonah Rd, Purga and is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and 8:30am to 12:00pm Saturday and Sunday.
Bookings are essential – anyone wishing to be seen at the respiratory clinic must make an appointment by calling 5464 6765.
10.30am. Making hot pies and hand sanitiser
Judy Stuart has been pulling her pie van up in the Johnston Park car park at Rosewood for the past 16 years.
“My business has always been takeaway, so my trade has not gone down,” she said.
“I’m making sure everything is spotlessly clean and when I ran out of hand sanitiser, I made my own.”
“Our most popular seller is pie and mushy peas, we also stock sausage rolls, roast beef and gravy rolls and hot dogs, cold drinks and sweets.”
Judy’s pie van is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 2pm.
Check out these other great takeaway options in Ipswich to help support local business through these difficult times: Great Ipswich takeway food options
9.30am. Queensland update: no new cases, flu vaccination
Health Minister Steven Miles on Tuesday encouraged Queenslanders to get the flu jab and download the COVIDSafe app as the state recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 overnight.
“Over the past 90 days since we had our first case of COVID-19, we’ve asked Queenslanders to do a lot,” he said.
“We’ve asked them to stay home, we’ve asked them to stay distant; we’ve asked them to do a lot of things.
“Today we’re asking them to do two more things, but they are simple and they are safe.
“First of all we’re asking them to get their flu vaccination. Right now we are at record lows in terms of influenza circulation and we want to keep it that way.
“The best way to keep it that way is by getting as many Queenslanders as possible to have their flu vaccination.
“We’re also asking Queenslanders to download the federal government’s COVIDSafe app.
“This app, if enough people download it, will help us to continue to control COVID-19 without the harsh restrictions that we have needed so far.”
9.05am. Ask yourself: Is it in my control?
Spending your time and energy on what you can control can help maintain your mental wellbeing during COVID-19.
So, the next time you find yourself stressing about something, ask yourself: is it in my control?
8am. Tuesday, 28 April 2020. Lastest COVID-19 figures
West Moreton Health has had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of April.
The region’s confirmed cases have stayed at 37.
Of West Moreton Health district’s 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 11 remain active while 26 have now recovered.
Queensland has had three new cases of COVID-19 recorded raising the state total to 1,033.
There are now 101 active cases with 926 recoveries and six deaths.
Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said currently, 966 of the 1,033 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
“Even though Queensland has recorded very low numbers of cases this week, Queenslanders are reminded to continue staying home as much as possible, and stay in their suburb when undertaking essential activities such as going to the supermarket or exercising,” she said.
Dr Young said a total of 99,527 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 1,105 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Queensland’s testing criteria has now been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.
A total of 926 Queenslanders (almost 90% of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.
Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms.
Contact tracing continues for recent cases.
Queensland Health asks residents to continue practising good hygiene and staying home, especially if sick.
Washing hands properly and often is the gold standard of health advice that can help prevent viruses from entering the body.
