4pm. That’s a wrap
That’s all from us today for the #ipswichtogether COVID-19 blog.
We’ll be back again tomorrow from 8am with more community information and updates.
3.30pm. Stay fit at home
It’s important for our mental and physical health to stay active and keep fit right now.Â
Ipswich City Council has launched the new Active at Home series of online workouts to keep you moving and support your mental wellbeing during COVID-19.
The series of 30 minute workouts are being streamed daily at 8am on the Sport Ipswich Facebook page and include boxing/HIIT, pilates, yoga and bootcamp classes.
There’s also a great range of workouts for adults and kids on Active at Home, including yoga, pilates, strength training, HIIT, soccer skills and even hula hooping tricks.Â
Check out the full list of workouts and activities here.
2.35pm. Lifeline stores reopen
Lifeline stores are reopening today at Yamanto and Goodna as restrictions continue to be lifted.
The stores have been closed since 2 April to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The stores sell donated good like clothing, books, furniture and bric-a-brac to raise funds for counselling and support services.
For up-to-date information, check out their Lifeline Ipswich Shops Facebook page.
12.55pm. Laptop donation drive to help Ipswich students
Ipswich City Council has joined forces with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) to launch Operation Education, a program to supply Year 11 and 12 students with laptops and/or the internet during COVID-19.
While a number of loan laptops are available through schools, some students still do not have access to the right technology to learn from home.
“The struggle is very real for so many Ipswich students who, through no fault of their own, simply cannot access online learning, which is particularly concerning for years 11 and 12 students working towards completion of high school and/or further education,” Deputy Mayor Marnie Doyle said.
Read the full story: Helping students access learning during COVID-19 and beyond
12pm. Dingoes explore Ipswich Nature Centre
What happens when the Ipswich Nature Centre is closed to visitors?
Dingoes Lola and Moose have taken advantage of the extra space to go exploring.
Zoo staff have been taking them for walks around the paths, normally reserved for visitors.
While the Ipswich Nature Centre is currently closed until further notice due to COVID-19 restrictions, care for the animals is ongoing.
 Read also:
11am. Take a virtual gallery tour
With the Ipswich Art Gallery closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, art lovers can enjoy learning more about the gallery’s local treasures without leaving home.Â
Art gallery staff are sharing the stories behind paintings, sculptures and artifacts on Ipswich Art Gallery’s Facebook page, including this dish for serving bread, which was made in Bundamba back in 1890.Â
--9.50am. Queensland update: Five new cases overnight
Queensland has recorded five new confirmed COVID-19 cases overnight, with more than 1,069 people tested in the past 24 hours.
Health Minister Steven Miles said three of these cases were contracted interstate.
“Overnight we’re recording five additional cases, but three of those relate to earlier cases that had been recorded in other states,” he said.
“As other states identify cases within their reports that relate to Queensland residents they advise us of that, and then at that point in time those numbers come off that state’s record and get added to Queensland.
“That means we now have 57 active cases here in Queensland, 980 people have now recovered from COVID-19.”
The other two cases were recorded on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. Health officials are currently working to locate where the Gold Coast case was contracted, while the individual in Brisbane was a household contact of a known case.
9am. Alert for passengers of flight Qantas flight QF614
Queensland Health is in the process of contacting people from Qantas flight QF614 from Melbourne to Brisbane on 22 April 2020 after a passenger on this flight tested positive to COVID-19.
They ask that passengers seated in rows 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of this flight, who have not already been contacted by Queensland Health call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84), advise that you were a passenger on this flight.
All other passengers are considered very low risk, however anyone with health concerns can contact 13 HEALTH.
8am. Tuesday 5 May 2020. Five new cases confirmed in Queensland over the long weekend
West Moreton Health is currently managing one remaining positive case of COVID-19.
There have been 37 cases in the region and no new ones since the start of April.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Queensland less than 60 and five new cases were confirmed over the long weekend.
There are now 52 active cases, 980 recovered and six deaths for a total of 1038.
Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young reminded all Queenslanders to continue practising social distancing and good hygiene.
“Overall we saw most people abided by the social distancing regulations over the weekend after we eased restrictions to allow Queenslanders to leave their homes for recreation within a 50km radius,” Dr Young said.
“However, we did see some instances of people in crowded public areas and not adhering to social distancing.
“You should only be socialising with members of your household or one other person when leaving your home, or you can have two visitors visit your home.
“If the place you plan to visit is crowded when you get there and you can’t easily exercise the 1.5 metre social distancing rule, then you should go to another location or visit at a less busy time.”
Currently, 972 of the 1,038 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
A total of 116,650 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 1,052 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Queensland’s testing criteria has been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.
If you are unwell and you meet the above criteria, you should contact a doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
Before your appointment, please call ahead and tell them about your symptoms so they can prepare for your visit.
Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, nine of the 52 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with four of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.
A total of 980 Queenslanders (94 per cent of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.
Contact tracing continues for recent cases. Queensland Health will notify the community if any public health alerts are required.
