MP UPDATE FRIDAY 14 JANUARY 2022![]()
Again another big one, so please make a cuppa â and settle in as there is important information we need to share!!đ![]()
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RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS (RATS) FOR BUSINESSES â Dr Ian Norton and Respond Global who you would be familiar with from my interview many months ago, have been working with Noosa Council to provide latest information and guidelines on COVID health messaging and workforce management for local businesses. While RATS continue to be in short supply, some have been made available for businesses at risk of closing due to inability for staff to access testing. Noosa Council have information available with advice for businesses and how to order at www.noosa.qld.gov.au/business-covid-19. Advice provided during a webinar yesterday included for businesses to identify and prioritise key workers and any vulnerable staff. RATs can be used if someone has symptoms, is a close contact or to clear workers to come back to work â remembering this is on a priority basis until stocks are more plentiful where then they could move into âsurveillanceâ mode. In addition to the current standard hygiene practices of these many months, natural ventilation and âflowâ in the workplace is a recommendation. ![]()
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DOMESTIC BORDER CHANGE â reminder, as of tomorrow 1am Sat 15 January, there are now no restrictions for interstate visitors on entering QLD. This includes vaccination status, negative test result and travel declaration. International arrival restrictions have not yet changed, however will be reconsidered once we hit 90% double vaccination, predicted to be next week. The focus has shifted to managing risks related to where people are going within QLD and no longer where they are coming from. We certainly welcome our police back from their border roles!! All information related to COVID-19 can be found at www.covid19.qld.gov.au ![]()
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FREE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS (RAT) â As previously posted, the Federal government announced that free RATs will be available in pharmacies from 24th January, for those with a Pension Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, DVA Card, Health Care Card or Low Income Card. Please check with your local pharmacy to ensure they will have stock available, and a reminder to be kind to staff as they are doing their best whilst being overwhelmed. The State government has free RATs available at state testing facilities for those who are symptomatic or close contacts of a positive case, however as you know, these facilities are south or north to us, and RAT stocks are low including for government who are also not receiving all they order. Frustrating? Yes, especially as it was back in September that I asked the Premier in Parliament about obtaining stock in readiness! đ![]()
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PUBLIC BUS SUSPENSION â Sunbus public bus services will be suspended on the Sunshine Coast next Mon to Wed 17th to 19th. This is due to TWU members taking industrial action. Please plan ahead and seek alternative transport. www.sunbus.com.au/sunshine-coast![]()
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CARE ARMY âonce again assistance is available for vulnerable Queenslanders, including our Seniors, as COVID-19 cases continue to increase. Queenslanders without family, friends or neighbours and who need assistance with accessing essential household items, can call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349. ![]()
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COVID CARE â Information is available on what to do if you have COVID-19 at www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/i-have-covid and a reminder that information on being âCOVID Readyâ is available at www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-ready ![]()
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NATIONAL CORONVIRUS HOTLINE â 1800 020 080![]()
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COVID-19 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT â whether youâre feeling a âlittle overwhelmedâ or completely out of your depth, support is available by calling Beyond Blueâs dedicated coronavirus support line on 1800512348 or visit coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/ ![]()
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COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN â A reminder that children aged 5 â 11 are now eligible for vaccination. For those wishing to book, please visit www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/covid...![]()
In addition, there is another vaccine clinic finder available at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking/ ![]()
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TELEHEALTH â We welcome the Federal governmentâs announcement that Telehealth will become a permanent feature of primary health care. This will allow GPs, specialists and allied health professionals to continue to consult with their regular patients by phone or online. Many of us have been appreciative of this option during the pandemic, and itâs great that it will now be a permanent option. If you need any further information, you can either contact your local federal MP, or read the federal Ministerâs statement at www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/permanent-telehealth-to-strengthen-univers... ![]()
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PANDEMIC LEAVE DISASTER PAYMENT â please donât forget that this is available for those who are required to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19, or if caring for someone who is required to. Please contact your federal MP for further information, call Services Australia 1800 653 809 or visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-queensland ![]()
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MSQ CHANGESâ Congratulations to Jake Hennessy on his promotion to Area Manager to our northern neighbours, and our sincere thanks for your efforts on our behalf during your time in Noosa. Jakeâs replacement has been advertised, and we look forward to welcoming shortly!![]()
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GAMBLING COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND â The opening of the $100k super round has been delayed by 5 weeks to 21 February and wonât close until 31 March. This due to many organisations being impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, as well, some areas hard hit by flooding could use extra time to prepare a grant application. Funding decisions will still be made before the end of the financial year. www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/community-grants ![]()
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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS â will be conducting a National Health Survey over the course of 2022. This is being conducted under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, which has provisions to make surveys compulsory. If you are contacted to participate in this survey, it is legitimate and is not a scam. www.abs.gov.au![]()
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ADVOCACY UPDATE - Having lost count of the number of letters, phone calls and direct representations Iâve made to the Premier, Minister for Health and Chief Health Officer during this pandemic, our latest has requested that they consider several urgent measures, including to take to National Cabinet the needed financial support for businesses forced to close due to staff in isolation, and access to GPs for those who are unvaccinated. As well, a COVID care pack delivered to those needing to isolate that incorporates a RAT, paracetamol and various supplements known to assist in recovery as provided in other countries. And again for hospitality/tourism industries to be recategorized as essential industries in COVID risk management, improved and simplified communications, and extended data collection when we register our online positive RAT tests as they are missing out on important information we can provide as part of our present and future. With most of these in the national realm, itâs vitally important that residents communicate issues and concerns with our Federal MPs and not just our office, so they can advocate directly to their Ministers and Prime Ministerâs offices as well. ![]()
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To finish. For those who have followed mine and Shoeyâs âdateâ with Covid, it has been very bumpy! Now in day 11 and still with symptoms and testing positive (hence the pic - note the faint lines at 'T''!), can I recommend that in your preparations, make provision in case you need to stay hunkered down longer than 7 days to avoid 2 minute noodles? As well, symptoms can range beyond the âstandardsâ and we had back pain as well burning eyes amongst other ânastiesâ. For those in the majority that either have no or minor symptoms, PLEASE DO NOT clog the health phone lines or our emergency departments as that is our main issue at the moment, not a lack of hospital beds. By us all doing our âbitâ and isolating with any symptoms (even if you cannot access a test as we had) and treating ourselves as advised, we will reduce the spread in our community, as well preserve resources. This current âwaveâ we have been advised will be followed by others, and it is really important to minimise risk by treating all places and spaces as exposure sites and remember that someone does not need to have symptoms to be contagious. This does not mean avoid getting out and about, just to be vigilant with your regimes, and an added extra is those handy mini spray sanitisers for those public toilets? Even being double vaxxed, and then catching whilst being super careful or as I have termed âpandemic pedanticâ, I have been advised we can still catch and spread again, though will get extra immunity between 30 days to 3 months for our 2 weeks of being crook?𤧠Sadly, as we learnt in a webinar yesterday, talk of âherd immunityâ has flown out the window in the face of data, and we may have 2 years of these âwavesâ ahead, as well potential variants. So, if you were being lax about your regimes, booster, or new yearâs resolution to get healthier and fitter, can I say maybe hop to? ![]()
Stay well and thank you to all who have contacted with offers of food! What an incredibly beautiful community we live in, and I am very much looking forward to seeing that âTâ line of the RAT test disappear!! đ![]()
Sandy đ
UNSCHEDUED UPDATE 13 JANUARY 2022![]()
DOMESTIC BORDER RESTRICTIONS REMOVED â As of 1am on Saturday 15th January, there are no domestic border restrictions arriving into Queensland. International restrictions remain in place until we reach 90% double vaccination, possibly next week, and will then be reconsidered. In this morningâs press conference, the Minister for Health said that it has become less important to concentrate on where people are coming from and more important to concentrate on where people are going. The Chief Health Officer stated the border restrictions were important to delay a COVID outbreak long enough for every Queenslander to have access to vaccinations, however have now served their purpose. We certainly welcome our police back to their frontline roles and appreciate their efforts during this time. Please visit QLD Healthâs facebook page for further information until updated information is available at
www.covid19.qld.gov.au
The latest information and advice about COVID-19 for Queenslanders.
UNSCHEDULE UPDATE 11 JANUARY 2022![]()
DRIVE THROUGH TESTING CLINIC - 4Cyte Pathology is reopening their drive through clinic at 149 Weyba Rd Noosaville from tomorrow, and will be open 8am to 12pm Monday to Friday. You can find information on all testing locations in the area at
Testing and fever clinics â coronavirus (COVID-19)
www.qld.gov.au
Read about the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing process, eligibility and find your nearest COVID-19 testing clinic.
URGENT UNSCHEDULED UPDATE 11 JANUARY 2022![]()
SUSPENSION OF JP'S IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM - The Justices of the Peace Branch has advised a temporary suspension for four weeks effective immediately, to help protect the safety of volunteer JPs. In the meantime, online witnessing will continue to operate and more info about these service can be found at www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/about-justice-of-the-peace/online-wit... The suspension of this community program does not prevent individual JP's from offering their services and if JP's are comfortable enough to do so, they may continue this work. This suspension includes the JPs in the Community offering at Noosa Civic who have released an announcement of their own.
Have documents witnessed online by a JP or Cdec
www.qld.gov.au
Learn how to have your important documents witnessed online by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations during COVID-19 restrictions.
MP UPDATE MONDAY 10 JANUARY 2022![]()
Yes, our office is back open, and a long one so as always please grab a beverage to get to the end? To start, our thoughts and wishes are with our neighbours to the north who were hit hard by the extensive flooding caused by ex-cyclone Seth, especially families who have lost a loved one, or are still missing đ. This is both another reminder, and âwake up callâ to be flood and fire ready with evacuation plans in place, as even our best forecasts and efforts often cannot accommodate what can eventuate.đ˘![]()
HEALTH & OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2021 REMINDERâ URGENT, public submissions for this bill are open until 5pm tomorrow (11 Jan), so please, read more about this and consider submitting at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=172&id=4139 It is vitally important that everyone has their say on any changes to legislation such as this!![]()
SCHOOL â the start of the QLD school year has moved to 7 February to avoid the predicted Omicron wave peak and allow more time for children to get vaccinated. The new start date applies to all state, catholic and independent primary and secondary schools and sessional kindies. Students in years 11 and 12 will commence remote learning from 31 January to 4 February. To ensure other cohorts do not miss out on learning, the end of the school year will be extended for them by one week until 16 December. Schools will remain open to vulnerable children and the children of essential workers. Principals will implement staffing arrangements to ensure only the minimum number of staff are on site. We have been advised that delaying the start of school is a commonsense measure which is particularly important for 5 to 11-year-olds who are eligible for vaccination from today. For those wishing to book vaccinations for their children, please visit www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/covid... ![]()
CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS â there have been changes to the definition of critically essential workers who can continue to work if they are identified as close contacts, provide they are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated. If an organisation or business is on the list of critical industries, employers must then determine which particular roles in their organisation are critical and notify the QLD Government accordingly. These include workers in emergency services, resources, power and utilities, agriculture production, freight and logistics, public transport, essential retail (supermarkets and stores in remote locations) and major manufacturing, distribution and critical supply chains. These workers must be fully vaccinated and will need to undertake additional measure like wearing PPE and only travelling to/from work by private vehicles. They can then go about their normal routine after a negative day 6 RAT result. We have written to the Premier to seek inclusion of hospitality/tourism workers to this cohort due to the extreme impacts within the industry. ![]()
FREIGHT â freight and logistics workers no longer need to provide evidence of a negative test result before entering QLD. This to help ensure supply chains throughout the country. ![]()
RAPID ANTIGEN TEST (RAT) â yes, we are fully aware of the difficulty in obtaining these and have previously updated that improved supply is underway. However, should you test positive by RAT, please donât hesitate to register your positive result at www.covid-19.qld.gov.au as you will then receive advice on what to do next. For anyone who doesnât have access to a computer, you can call 134 COVID to register your result over the phone. If your positive RAT has also been confirmed by a positive PCR, you do not also need to report your RAT result. There is also a website to help locate available RATs at findarat.com.au/ . Though can I say personally from my own experience (see âTo finishâ) this may work when supply is plentiful, however ATM sources provided are either âout of stockâ or delivery times unknown by the time you get there or order? ![]()
COVID READY â it is no secret that many, if not the majority of residents will contract COVID-19 over the coming days, and as posted previously there is information available for you and your family to be âCOVID Readyâ as I wished we had been, including having some form of paracetamols in the house? www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-ready ![]()
COVID IN THE WORKPLACE â Information for business owners and managers can be found at www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/industry-and-businesses/manag... Donât forget that you can also call the Small Business Hotline 24/7 on 1300 654 687 if you need any advice or assistance. ![]()
ELECTIVE SURGERY â Non-urgent elective surgeries will be postponed in Queenslandâs public hospitals until 1 March 2022. Postponing Category 3 and some Category 2 surgeries, as well as postponing or delivering all non-urgent outpatient appointments by telehealth will ensure our health system has sufficient capacity to deal with the expected peak of Omicron cases in coming weeks. Please understand that categories are determined according to the clinical information provided by your GPs, not through intervention by any political person. If your situation worsens and you are category 2 or 3, please see your GP. ![]()
COVID-19 LINKS â Whilst all information and links to other sites can be found at www.covid-19.qld.gov.au, below are links to the latest Public Health Directions that have been issued in accordance with emergency powers arising from the declared public health emergency under the Public Health act 2005 (QLD).![]()
Borders - www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p...![]()
Hotspots and border zone declarations - www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p... ![]()
Isolation and Management of Close Contacts - www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p... ![]()
Face Masks - www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p...![]()
Quarantine for International Arrivals - www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p... ![]()
To finish. Even though you did not get the break from me that all had hoped for over the holidays đ it was wonderful for Shoey and I to see nearly all of our grandies in amongst the chaos which included cyclonic weather wherever we went, an earthquake, and to finish off, a dose of COVID. They always say most accidents occur closest to home, and that is where we reckon Shoey let his guard down with his hand sanitising as we had been âpandemic pedanticâ during our travels to ensure we did not take any unwanted Xmas gifts to our newest bubba Sadie in the NT, nor to my Mumsy 94 or Shoeyâs Moosie 95 who are both extremely vulnerable. Thankfully, it seems he only shared with me (thatâs love đ) and am glad we erred on the extreme caution side when he started âsnifflingâ and immediately isolated, though I should have sent him further than downstairs as within 48hrs I caught! 𼴠We have spent 5 very, very miserable days âcrook asâ with some unusual symptoms on top of the Covid âstandardsâ, trying to access (unsuccessfully) a couple of RATS and some Panadol, as well groceries (no home deliveries to where we live âš)! However, there is always a good side to everything and receiving confirmation it is COVID courtesy of a belated Xmas gift from a bud last night of 2 RATs, a loaf of bread and 2 packets of painkillers was more than welcomed, it was almost liberating. Why is a âpositiveâ a positive you ask? Because after being so on edge not just over Christmas (and as everyone knows, being mindful everywhere is exhausting!) but the 18 months prior, trying to ensure we did not catch, to finally get it is a relief as strange as that sounds. Now, we just want to recover, and know, as no doubt every other person in the country does, whether once you have had it, if you get it again, is it much milder in both symptoms as well spread ability? If not, can someone send me a bulk load of RATs so I can put Shoey under a Covid Safe Plan, and a counsellor as him having to tolerate me for the last 5 days, and now for the next 5 days whilst I continue isolating, is much more than he can bear!đ¤Łđ¤Ł Be assured that over this time from everyone who has contacted me, and from our own experiences, very grass roots recommendations have gone to the CHO, Premier and Health Minister so that into the coming weeks what is needed is understood, and a Covid Care pack as we received would be a good start. Though maybe the wine and bread replaced with some supplements to help recovery as they do in other countries would be more appropriate? Fortunately we had those, not the wine or bread which was seriously appreciated!! đ![]()
Welcome to 2022 everyone. I look forward to seeing all when I am âsafeâ. And to do our new yearâs resolution which was to take up kayaking over the last 5 days, versus what was our reality.![]()
I know I have harped before on how to keep yourself safe, and I know you get tired of hearing me say it. However, given how we caught this bug, even doing everything right, can I add an extra piece of advice? Watch out for your other half! đ Seriously though, we have a really rough month ahead, and those words âhunker downâ can be the difference between catching and not. And Shoey, I love you mega, even though I know you want me out of the house as soon as possible!! đ![]()
Stay well and hugs to all.![]()
Sandy đ
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