Dear Colleagues,

It is another day in a row of no new cases of COVID-19 in Queensland. Metro North is providing support for one active case in the Virtual Ward.

I continue to be blown away by the huge numbers people who are listening to the health advice and coming forward to get tested if they have symptoms. Since last week’s positive COVID-19 cases linked to travel from a hotspot, our amazing Metro North teams in our fever clinics and community assessment centre have tested over 13,000 people. Well done!

These high numbers give us a level of confidence that we are doing well. But as the Chief Health Officer stated today, it is far too soon to relax. This weekend, it is particularly important to continue washing our hands, keep 1.5 metres from others and stay indoors where possible.

Border closures

Today, an updated Border Restrictions Direction (No.11) was published on the Chief Health Officer public health directions website with all the instructions related to the hard border closure with NSW, ACT and Victoria from 1am tomorrow.

Some of the key changes include:

• People entering Queensland from a hotspot can now only do so by air, unless under specific circumstances, such as being an approved emergency or a specialist worker;
• A new border zone will be introduced for residents of NSW and QLD residents who live in the border area;
• Specialist workers will still be allowed to enter Queensland from a hotspot. However, they must meet certain requirements;
• Accompanied minors or persons requiring regular care/support due to health needs are no longer allowed to quarantine at home with a parent or carer. They will be required to quarantine in a hotel with their parent or carer, unless an exemption is granted. Unaccompanied minors will have to apply for an exemption to enter Queensland.

I understand these closures will impact many of you personally and some you professionally who patients usually coming from these areas. Thank you for showing flexibility and understanding. If you need to apply for a border declaration pass, please visit the Queensland Government website.

Close contact of person tested for COVID-19

Some of you have been asking what you need to do if someone in your household, or someone you’re in contact with, has been tested for COVID-19. The current advice states that you do not have to self-isolate if someone close to you has been tested, unless specifically advised by the local public health unit. But of course, you should stay away from the sick person as much as possible. Only if the test result is positive will you need to be in quarantine because you will be then assessed as a close contact.

So, yes, it is still safe to come to work if someone in your household has been tested and you are well. There are a number of relevant resources about sick leave and other leave related to COVID-19 on the extranet.  Please look at these if you have any concerns.

Rainy days like today certainly make it easy to follow the health advice and stay home! I hope you can enjoy a cosy night in out of the rain, and if the rain continues over the weekend (and public holiday for some of you), make the most of it – rug up and spend some time indoors with your loved ones.  I find a weekend at home with Netflix and/or Stan, watching a great movie or series, is such a wonderful stress relief! A big thank you to those of you holding the fort over the weekend – you are all superstars.

I had the pleasure of visiting Redcliffe this afternoon and took the opportunity to wander around and speak to a number of people. Thank you to everyone who stopped to chat. You are doing an outstanding job and you are an amazing team. I was asked many times how Dave was, so just by way of an update, he came to us weighing 6kg and is now 9kg.  He is a very happy, little chap (maybe not quite so little now) and he’s full of puppy fun.  Despite his protestations, my husband Ian is very much converted to puppy love and he and Dave are turning into besties! This afternoon I came home to a puppy who had been rolling in the newly laid topsoil in the backyard. Normally he looks like he does in the first photo. Needless to say, he enjoyed a Friday afternoon bath.

I end the week feeling as grateful as ever to be part of the Metro North team. There’s no other place I’d rather be! Stay well, look after yourself have a wonderful weekend! You will hear from me again tomorrow.

Kind regards,
Alanna Geary
Metro North Incident Commander

Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*

*With effect 7 August 2020, 10:00am
**Metro North has three recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.