16 OCT QLD
QUEENSLAND RELAXES SOME MORE
Two new coronavirus cases reported in Queensland, as restrictions eased further with Year 12 students able to dance at formals
Dancing at weddings allowed in Queensland
Queensland Covid hotspots: list of Brisbane and regional Qld case locations
BORDER BREACH
The moment Queensland police found a truckie's wife hiding in his cab
17 OCT QLD
Qld records zero new coronavirus cases
Sandgate, Maroochydore & Wynnum wastewater ( SE QLD ) shows coronavirus
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/coronavirus-detected-in-south-east-queensland-sewage-samples/ar-BB1a77Aa?ocid=msedgdhp
18 OCT QLD = NO COVID NEWS
QUEENSLAND RELAXES SOME MORE
Two new coronavirus cases reported in Queensland, as restrictions eased further with Year 12 students able to dance at formals
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/two-new-coronavirus-cases-reported-in-queensland-as-restrictions-eased-further-with-year-12-students-able-to-dance-at-formals/ar-BB1a4EHR?ocid=msedgdhpQueensland has eased four more coronavirus restrictions this afternoon after a 36-day stretch of no community transmissions — two people tested positive in the past 24 hours but both are in hotel quarantine.
Health Minister Steven Miles said stage five would be brought forward, as a "reward for Queenslanders".
From 4:00pm today, people can able to gather in groups of 40 in homes or in the community, Year 12 students can dance at school formals, 40 people are able to dance at weddings and aged care residents are permitted to go on excursions.
"We are doing this in a graduated way, testing throughout the incubation period, at least 14 days each time, to make sure that each easing hasn't had an impact on our ability to control the virus," he said.
Rochedale State High School year 12s could not believe their luck, given the reprieve came hours ahead of their formal.
They have been practising their dance moves all day.
St Lucia Hillstone sales manager Donika Mehmet said they had had Rochedale High booked in for months.
"We are delighted but so caught by surprise we are maximum capacity so can't fit in a dance floor," she said.
"But the students can dance around the tables. They'll have a ball."
Mr Miles said the state would wait before making any decision on easing border restrictions, with a decision due at the end of the month.
"We will continue to monitor the situation in NSW and Victoria before making any decision on reopening our border," Mr Miles said.
There are now four active cases in the state after 4,738 tests overnight, including 204 in Townsville, where COVID-19 was detected in the wastewater.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said of the two cases, one was a miner who had returned from Africa and was in hotel quarantine in Cairns.
The other person returned from the United States and was in hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast.
"The two new cases in Queensland are both in hotel quarantine so are not a risk to the community," Dr Young said.
"As more Australians come home, we will see more Australians with the virus."
Dr Young said there had now been about 38 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, with more than 1 million deaths around the world.
Dancing at weddings allowed in Queensland
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/dancing-at-weddings-allowed-in-queensland/ar-BB1a4NiP?ocid=msedgdhpDancing at weddings and school formals will be allowed in Queensland from later today as part of the state's easing of its coronavirus restrictions.
From 4pm, up to 40 people can dance at weddings with a COVID Safe Plan, something which has not been allowed since the global pandemic reached Australia earlier this year.
Dancing will be also be allowed for students at Year 12 school formals.
Live Updates: Victoria can expect 'significant steps' out of lockdown
https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1316887133412450304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As well as easings for wedding and formals, 40 people are now allowed to gather at home.
Aged care residents can go on outings again from 4pm today.
Queensland recorded only two new COVID-19 cases today, both are Australians who have returned from overseas and are in hotel quarantine.
There are only four people with coronavirus currently in the state.
Queensland also plans finally open its borders with neighbouring NSW on November 1, providing there are no mystery cases in the state, with the ongoing closure remaining controversial.
Queensland Covid hotspots: list of Brisbane and regional Qld case locations
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/queensland-covid-hotspots-list-of-brisbane-and-regional-qld-case-locations/ar-BB1a4O4L?ocid=msedgdhpHotspots and case locations
Anyone who attended these locations should monitor for Covid symptoms and immediately get tested if they develop.
6 October
Flight VA 782 Cairns to Brisbane
Georges Paragon Restaurant, Brisbane: from 7.30pm
5 October
Vivo, Palm Cove: 5.15pm to 9pm
3 October
Flight QF2302 Townsville to Cairns
Tha Fish, Cairns: 5.45pm to 8.30pm
1 October
Mater Day Surgery, Hyde Park, Townsville
30 September
NQ Vascular, Pimlico, Townsville: 1pm to 2pm
29 September
Mater Day Surgery, Hyde Park, Townsville
Icon Cancer Centre, Hyde Park, Townsville: 9am to 9.30am
28 September
Icon Cancer Centre, Hyde Park, Townsville: 4pm to 5pm
BORDER BREACH
The moment Queensland police found a truckie's wife hiding in his cab
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/the-moment-queensland-police-found-a-truckie-s-wife-hiding-in-his-cab/ar-BB1a3D9P?ocid=msedgdhpBody camera footage shows the moment the officer discovered the rogue stowaway at the Texas checkpoint near the New South Wales/Queensland border.
The pair were fined $4,003 each and refused entry to the state after police deemed they had breached COVID-19 directives.
She was exposed during a major compliance operation by Queensland Police.
When he stopped the truck the officer asked the driver if he was travelling with any passengers, before advising he would be checking the vehicle.
'Is there anybody else in the truck with you?' he said.
'I'm going to have a quick check and see if there is another person in there.'
After opening the driver's door and pulling back a curtain he revealed a makeshift bed with blankets and pillows.
He also exposed the hiding spot of the truck driver's wife, a 51-year-old woman from Victoria.
Heavy vehicle operators travelling into Queensland on a Freight Border Declaration Pass must comply with restrictions and departure requirements to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19.
More than 180 heavy vehicles were intercepted for compliance checks as part of the operation on Wednesday.
They were centred around Cunningham Highway at Goondiwindi; Leichardt Highway at Goondiwindi and New England Highway at Wyberba.
Officers also conducted heavy vehicle road safety patrols on major highways including intercepting vehicles for roadside breath and drug testing.
17 OCT QLD
Qld records zero new coronavirus cases
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/qld-records-zero-new-coronavirus-cases/vi-BB1a72xL?ocid=msedgdhpDeputy Premier Steven Miles announced no new covid cases reported overnight in QLD , but has urged Townsville residents to get tested following the discovery of traces of COVID-19 in the town's sewerage system.
Sandgate, Maroochydore & Wynnum wastewater ( SE QLD ) shows coronavirus
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/sandgate-maroochydore-wynnum-wastewater-shows-coronavirus/vi-BB1a7ajc?ocid=msedgdhpQueensland has recorded no new cases but concerns remain high following traces of the virus in sewage in three new locations in the south-east of the state.
Samples of sewage taken from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast have tested positive for coronavirus.
Traces of coronavirus were found in Townsville's sewage earlier this month, which Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said could have been from an asymptomatic person still shedding the virus.
Wastewater in Townsville, in north Queensland, has since tested negative but samples from October 12 and 13 taken at Sandgate, Maroochydore and Wynnum in the state's south-east tested positive.
"It could of course be someone who recently had the infection and then has gone to those places, so they're not infectious, they've recovered but they're still shedding virus, it could be that," Dr Young said.
"But it could of course be a person that we've not picked up, that's out there in the community.
"We have most recently seen, both in Victoria and New South Wales, that when they've had positive results in their sewage, they've gone out then and done more testing and they have found cases.
"That could be happening here in Queensland, so although it's now over a month since we've had an infectious case in the community, we could have an infectious case again any day."
Queensland recorded no new cases of coronavirus overnight.
The state's total remains at 1,164 with four cases still listed as active.
Dr Young said it was "absolutely critical' any new cases were detected as soon as possible for the health system to be able to manage them.
"We don't know how long, someone can continue to shed the virus, we know from other situations you can shed virus for months and months and months, it's probably the case here," she said.
Blood samples from an woman who tested positive, several days after leaving Queensland and arriving in Victoria, have also now tested negative in serology tests.
Dr Young said the samples were taken before the woman left Queensland and before she was showing any symptoms.
"It doesn't confirm anything but it just suggests that she didn't have the infection while she was in Queensland," she said.
The woman had visited several locations in Townsville and Cairns, including medical facilities, before flying to Melbourne on October 7 .
Dr Young said Queensland Health was still waiting on results from tests in Melbourne to confirm the woman's case.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/coronavirus-detected-in-south-east-queensland-sewage-samples/ar-BB1a77Aa?ocid=msedgdhp
18 OCT QLD = NO COVID NEWS