Dear colleagues,

It’s encouraging to see hard work pay off – we are continuing to record very low case numbers in Queensland. In the last 24 hours, we have only 2 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 50. The numbers don’t lie! Measures to ensure we are social distancing and maintaining hand hygiene really is helping to slow the spread.

Today’s update includes:

• Clarifying visitor guidelines
• Changes to restrictions

Clarifying visitor guidelines

There are many updates and changes occurring and I’d like to clarify the Hospital Visitors Direction from Queensland Health. The restrictions around care and support visits to hospitals mean that up to two visitors can see a patient in hospital but only:

• One visit per day, per patient
• Up to two hours
• No more than two people per visit.

There are exceptions for carers of children, carers for patients with a disability, partners/support persons for pregnant women in labour and for visitors for end-of-life patients. You can find all information regarding the directive here.

In the meantime, I’d again like to remind you to encourage patients to connect with their loved ones with ‘virtual visits’.

Changes to restrictions

This morning Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young announced that from Sunday families of up to five people will be able to visit other Queensland homes, just in time for Mother’s Day. This means that one family of up to five people can visit another family of up to five people – limiting the interaction between two households. Dr Young also said that family members can travel more than 50km from home to visit family on Sunday, as long as it’s directly there and back.

These new restrictions will stay in place unless there is a major cluster of cases. So please, keep a 1.5m distance between yourself and others and continue to follow these directions!

This is my last day in the Metro North EOC for a few days (welcome back Alanna). I wish you all a safe and happy weekend. Don’t forget to call your mothers and loved ones on Sunday if you aren’t able to pop in for a Mother’s Day visit! Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation, it’s important to keep in touch with those close to us.

Kind regards,
Dr Liz Rushbrook
Metro North Health Incident Controller

Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*

*With effect 1000 7 May 2020

**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