Tag: Queensland

Floods Hit Habitat of Bottom-Breathing Turtles

Renowned biologist and turtle conservationist Colin Limpus has said he fears that Queensland’s torrential rain in recent days has wreaked havoc on the habitat of the iconic bottom-breathing turtle. The flooding from former cyclone Seth dumped a torrential amount of rain over the catchment of Mary River, where the turtle calls home, peaking just short of…


Second Australian Man Dies in Queensland Floods

An eight-year-old girl has spent the night clinging to a tree with her step mum after raging floodwaters in southeast Queensland claimed the life of her father. The body of the girl’s 52-year-old dad—identified as Steve Bottcher of Bauple—was on Tuesday found at a property near Tiaro south of Gympie. He is the second confirmed…


Australian PM on Back to School: ‘Once We Go Back, We Stay Back’

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants a consistent set of principles to guide back to school plans nationwide after the Queensland government delayed the start of the school year due to the projected peak of COVID-19 cases. “It’s obviously a key issue for parents as they are thinking about their children going back to school in…


Australian State Warns of Impending COVID-19 ‘Emergency’

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard has warned that the Australian state will face a “major emergency” in the coming weeks with modelling projecting a peak in cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus around late January, early February. “We are going to be stepping up to a very major emergency in the coming two…


Queensland May Delay Start of School Year Amid Omicron Wave

The Australian state of Queensland has announced a potential plan to delay the start of the first school term for 2022 by one to two weeks if the current coronavirus Omicron variant wave looks to be heading towards a peak. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government was working on a plan while National Cabinet models…


QLD To Issue 18 Million RATs

The Queensland government has secured 18 million state rapid antigen tests (RATs) to be provided for free from public testing sites to people classified as close contacts. This includes 12 million at-home tests and almost 6 million point of care tests. At-home Rapid Antigen Tests will be provided from public test sites, free to close…


Queensland Govt to Issue 18 Million Rapid Antigen Tests

The Queensland government has secured 18 million rapid antigen tests (RATs) to be provided for free at public testing sites to people classified as close contacts. This includes 12 million at-home tests and almost 6 million point of care tests. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the supply would support new national protocols for close contacts…


Queensland Scraps All PCR Testing for Interstate Travellers as Clinics Deal With Holiday Surge

Queensland has decided to scrap PCR testing for travellers prior to entering the state, switching to the more convenient rapid antigen tests (RAT). In a social media post on Wednesday morning, state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “From Jan. 1, travellers into Queensland from interstate hotspots can use a negative rapid antigen test to satisfy border…


Queensland Scraps Day 5 PCR Test Requirements for Travellers

The Queensland government has done away with the requirement for travellers entering the state to receive a PCR test on the fifth day of their visit. In a press conference on Tuesday, the state’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said that based on data received in the past 24 hours the chief health officer has advised…


Australian State Extends Mask Mandate, Reduces Quarantine to 7 Days for Close Contacts

The Queensland government has extended its protective mask mandate to cinemas, theatres and for hospitality workers from 5 a.m. on Dec. 23. This comes one day after it reduced the quarantine period by half for peopled deemed close contacts of COVID-19 cases. Queensland had already made masks mandatory in retail centres, hospitals, aged care, airports, ridesharing…