World News – AU – Queensland Health reaches hotel quarantine exemptions after more contagious COVID variants emerge

Queensland health officials are taking action against hotel quarantine exemptions following an increase in coronavirus cases overseas and the emergence of more contagious variants.

Queensland Health announced that there have only been 104 quarantine requests out of 34 as of June. Has approved 774 exemption requests to the state health department.

In a statement, the department said many inquiries had come from intergovernmental people in hopes of quarantining their homes, visiting a dying relative, or taking a private tour of someone who had died.

« The vast majority were for people coming off the highway and most were approved because of the applicants’ complex health needs, » the statement said.

« This was granted about two months prior to the applicant’s travel date and would not have been approved in the current circumstances, » the department said.

« In view of the growing global risk of COVID-19 and the emergence of more contagious variants, we have tightened our quarantine requirements even further, » it continues.

The statement came in response to the department’s continued refusal to allow a terminally ill breast cancer patient to bypass hotel quarantine and isolate herself at home.

Lisa Laird, 49, a breast cancer patient in the fourth stage of metastasis, has applied for several exemptions for medical reasons with the support of three specialists.

Her requests have so far been denied and Ms. Laird is serving the remainder of her hotel quarantine at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Queensland Health did not want to comment on Ms. Laird’s case, but said they had « established specialized suites in government-arranged accommodation to make quarantine safer for people with complex medical needs ». .

Three new cases were reported in Queensland on Thursday, all infected overseas and all being hospitalized, Queensland Health reports.

A traveler in his thirties who recently returned from Ghana tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19.

He was taken to hospital from hotel quarantine. One woman tested positive for the South African variant earlier this week.

« This discovery underscores the importance of the Hotel Quarantine Directive, especially for overseas travelers, » said Dr. Jeannette Young, Chief Health Officer.

She said Queensland Health is closely following the NSW cluster and new Victorian cases and is urging Queenslanders traveling in those states to « reconsider their plans ». .

« The next 24 hours are critical to Victoria and the NSW cluster is growing every day, » she said.

« We have worked hard to keep COVID-19 out of the Queensland community and we don’t want this to be reversed due to complacency. « 

Meanwhile, police have set up a fourth border checkpoint on Miles Street on the Gold Coast to handle the large numbers of people entering the state.

The checkpoint is the fourth to reopen since the borders with the greater Sydney area closed just over a week ago.

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Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the additional checkpoint means officials from across the state have been reassigned.

« In conjunction with the resources already available, there are currently another 38 police officers on site, » he said.

« We have 30 employees from the state rescue service and the rural fire brigade as well as our partners from the areas of transport and main roads. « 

Gold Coast Police said 840 people have been turned away since Greater Sydney was declared a hotspot in mid-December.

Since the borders were closed again on Dec.. December 12 violations of border violations reported, including five people who traveled from Sydney and have now been forced into self-financed hotel quarantine.

Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said that on Jan.. January another checkpoint will be opened in Numinbah.

« We will also have a limited access point on Nerang-Murwillumbah Road in Numinbah that will operate seven days a week, » he said.

« It operates between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Queensland time. The electronic gate is closed outside of these times. « 

« People try to play the system from time to time. We really advise against it as it would only take one person to bring COVID into our state, « Wheeler said.

Queensland recorded three new hotel quarantine cases on Thursday, with 14 active cases remaining across the state.

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AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, 10 hours before GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Quarantine, Dannii Minogue, Queensland, Kylie Minogue