COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland

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COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Confirmed cases1,655
Active cases21
Hospitalised cases18
Recovered1,614
Deaths
7
Fatality rate0.42%
Government website
www.covid19.qld.gov.au

The COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Timeline[edit]

Queensland Police checkpoint at Coolangatta on 4 April 2020
Boundary Street Coolangatta, with barricades blocking access from New South Wales
COVID-19 preventive measures stickers on a pedestrian signal pole in Queensland

2020[edit]

On 29 January 2020, Queensland was the first to declare a public health emergency.[1] The legislation was strengthened on 6 February by the Public Health (Declared Public Health Emergencies) Amendment Bill 2020.[2]

Key directions made under the Public Health Act 2005 include:

  • 2 April – A person must not leave their principal place of residence except for essential needs including work, food, medical and exercise, outdoor gatherings only up to 2 persons or with members of household, receiving only to 2 visitors at a residence, and no gatherings in non-residences.[3]
  • 9 April – "Non-essential" business, activity or undertaking must not be operated. "Non-essential" businesses include cinemas, casinos, concerts, indoor sports, gyms, playgrounds, campgrounds, libraries. Restrictions also apply to restaurants (take away or delivery only), churches, hairdressers etc. However, most construction, mining, manufacturing and retail businesses continued to operate.[4]

Restricted entry into Queensland was introduced, with only Queensland residents and those considered an 'exempt person' being allowed to enter Queensland by air, sea, rail or road from another state or territory.[5] This was introduced in stages: Stage 1 started on 26 March 2020, with stages 2 and 3 involving tightening the restrictions. Stage 4, introduced on 11 April, was the most restrictive, every person crossing the border including Queensland residents required a permit. In addition, a person who had been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the previous 14 days had to self-quarantine for 14 days.[6]

Closures of areas within Queensland included:

  • All camping areas within Queensland national parks, state forests and recreation areas were closed on 26 March.[citation needed]
  • Closure of high visitation National Parks including Fraser Island as well as all day use areas and visitor centres on 9 April.[7]
  • Closure of Queensland waters to cruise ships on 6 April.[8]
  • Closure of Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and The Spit beaches on 8 April.[9]

Access to the Torres Strait Islands has been restricted to prevent COVID-19 from reaching the region, which has to date remained free of cases.[10]

2021[edit]

On 1 February 2021, Queensland opened its border to all Australian states and territories except Western Australia. Since the border closures were implemented, 6,855,750 border passes were issued.[11]

On 22 February, the first Queenslander received a COVID-19 vaccination at Gold Coast University Hospital. She was a nurse who works in that hospital's COVID-19 ward.[12]

On 28 February 2021, the "Check in Qld" QR code sign-in/contact tracing app was launched by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D'Ath. It is based on the ACT "Check in CBR" app. Use of the app is not mandatory.[13]

On 12 March, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane went into lockdown after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19. This was the beginning of one cluster in Brisbane connected to that hospital. Queensland had gone 59 days without any locally acquired COVID-19 infections.[14]

Brisbane lockdowns[edit]

On 8 January 2021, a three-day lockdown was announced by Annastacia Palaszczuk to prevent spread of the more contagious UK strain of coronavirus that escaped from a Brisbane hotel quarantine. The lockdown applied to all of greater Brisbane including council areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redland City from 6 pm that day.[15] More than 2 million residents were affected.[16]

On 29 March at 5 pm, Greater Brisbane went into yet another three-day lockdown. The step was taken when a second cluster of the UK strain of COVID-19 grew to seven people. Two of them were an un-vaccinated nurse from Princess Alexandra Hospital, and her sister.[17] By 30 March another 8 locally acquired cases were reported, for a total of 10 new cases in the preceding 24 hours, and 2 separate clusters, both UK strain were identified. As of this date Queensland had 78 active cases in hospitals.[18] On 31 March in Queensland 34,711 coronavirus tests and 7,596 vaccinations were conducted.[19]

On 1 April, the "three-day" lockdown was lifted five hours early at midday. Though 10 new cases had been recorded in the previous 24 hours, there was only one case of community transmission, which was linked to the second cluster surrounding the infected nurse from the Princess Alexandra Hospital. This cluster now numbered 12, up from 7 on 29 March.[19]

Some restrictions introduced for the lockdown were maintained temporarily:[19]

  • all Queenslanders had to carry a face-mask outside their home until 15 April,
  • patrons at food or beverage venues had to stay seated, no dancing allowed,
  • 30 person limit at private gatherings at homes statewide,
  • businesses and churches could open, but have only one-person-per 2-square-metres of floor area,
  • visitors were not permitted for 2 weeks at: aged or disabled care facilities, hospitals and prisons.[19]

Event cancellations[edit]

  • The Big Pineapple Music Festival was first postponed from May to November 2020 due to restriction of non-essential events to 500 patrons maximum.[20] It was then cancelled in August. The next festival event is scheduled for Saturday, 22 May 2021.[21]
  • "Land Forces 2020" international military exhibition scheduled for 1–3 September 2020, deferred until 1–3 June 2021.[22]
  • Brisbane, and the Gold Coasts' New Year's Eve fireworks at the end of 2020 were cancelled.[23]
  • On 16 February 2021, the World Surf League event the Gold Coast Corona Open was moved from Snapper Rocks to Narrabeen in Sydney. It is scheduled for 16–26 April 2021.[24]
  • All events of the Brisbane Open House planned in 2020 and 2021 had been cancelled.[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Queensland first to make emergency declarations in January – The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory". statements.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  2. ^ "View – Queensland Legislation – Queensland Government". legislation.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Home Confinement, Movement and Gathering Direction". Queensland Health. Queensland Government. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Non-essential business, activity and undertaking Closure Direction (No.5)". Queensland Health. Queensland Government. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Queensland border closure". COVID-19 Government Actions. Queensland Government. 11 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Border restrictions Direction (No.4)". Queensland Health. Queensland Government. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Important updates: coronavirus (COVID-19)". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Restricting cruise ships from entering Queensland waters Direction". Queensland Health. Queensland Government. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Three beaches to be closed". Search form Search City of Gold Coast. Search form Search City of Gold Coast. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. ^ Marian Faa (15 April 2020). "Torres Strait residents fighting to get home given 'no warning' of COVID-19 travel restrictions". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. ^ Kleyn, Brittney (31 January 2021). "Queensland drops restrictions to every state and territory except WA with holiday-makers encouraged to make plans for Easter". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  12. ^ Stevenson, Ashleigh (22 February 2021). "COVID-19 vaccine rollout begins in Queensland, as nurses, police inspector receive first jabs on the Gold Coast". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AAP. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. ^ McGhee, Rachel (28 February 2021). "Queensland finally gets a coronavirus tracing app to replace 'onerous' old system". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Brisbane hospital locked down after doctor tests positive for COVID-19". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  15. ^ Nick Pearson (8 January 2021). "Greater Brisbane lockdown rules explained". nine.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. ^ Siganto, Talissa (8 January 2021). "Greater Brisbane is in a three-day lockdown. These are the rules". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  17. ^ Nothling, Lily (29 March 2021). "Greater Brisbane officially plunged into three-day coronavirus lockdown". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  18. ^ Vujkovic, Melanie (29 March 2021). "Eight new locally acquired cases overnight as Greater Brisbane enters first day in lockdown". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  19. ^ a b c d Stewart, Jessica (31 March 2021). "Brisbane's lockdown lifted early after just one case of community transmission". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  20. ^ Newstead, Al (16 March 2020). "Big Pineapple Music Festival postponed due to coronavirus". triple j. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  21. ^ Newstead, Al (28 August 2020). "Big Pineapple Music Festival won't happen in November, reschedules to 2021". triple j. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  22. ^ Kuper, Stephen (10 May 2020). "Land Forces 2020 decision announced". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  23. ^ "How Australians marked New Year's Eve in a year dominated by COVID-19". ABC News. Australia. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021. Coronavirus restrictions have largely determined how millions of people across Australia have seen in 2021.
  24. ^ Bernard, Kimberley; Cumming, Sarah (16 February 2021). "World Surf League confirms Gold Coast Corona Open to relocate to Sydney due to pandemic". ABC Gold Coast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  25. ^ https://brisbaneopen.com.au/open-house/
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