GOONDIWINDI REGION COVID-19 UPDATE – 5 NOVEMBER 2021
« BackQueensland Health has confirmed that no new community cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Goondiwindi overnight.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has praised Goondiwindi Region residents for getting tested, with 245 tests at the Goondiwindi Hospital in the past 24 hours.
Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said he has spoken with the Queensland Premier, who has praised the community’s hard work and high vaccination rates for the lack of local transmission to date.
“The Queensland Premier has commended our local community this morning, and given we’ve had no community transmission overnight, this is a solid indication that our high vaccination rate is doing the hard yards in protecting us,” he said.
“I’d like to thank the Premier for recognising the effort our community has gone to in achieving a 90%+ first-dose rate, and requiring minimal changes to local restrictions in the face of the Moree outbreak.”
Goondwindi Regional Council understands that a new border directive with increased border restrictions is expected imminently.
However, Cr Springborg said he has been assured that the local grain harvest won’t be compromised.
**HARVEST – BORDER RESTRICTIONS UPDATE**
As of 12:01 am this morning [5 November 2021], the Moree Plains Shire council area is a declared restricted border zone area. At present, Council understands that farmers and agribusiness workers who travel to or from Moree Plains Shire LGA will no longer be able to use the X pass for entry to Queensland to undertake work or return from work.
If you meet the requirements, you may be able to travel to Queensland under the class exemption for farmers and agribusiness workers. A worker who meets the class exemption requirements will need to follow the stay-at-home requirements (you must not leave your accommodation or residence for 14 days since you were last in the restricted border zone, unless it is to carry out the essential purpose for which the border zone resident entered). More information is available in the current border restriction direction: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions
Workers supporting the grain harvest will need to update their border pass. Those who meet the criteria of the class exemption will need to state on the border pass application that they have been in a COVID-19 hot spot. The right of entry is a class exemption issued by the Chief Health Officer. You will be issued with a Z Pass.
At present, Council is not aware of any plans to further restrict F Pass holders.
For the latest information, see the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Grain Harvest Engagement Hub: https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/grain-harvesters
- For contact tracing locations in Goondiwindi, visit: www.health.qld.gov.au/tracing
- It is essential, that anyone experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 gets tested immediately. For testing location, visit: www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing
- For information about where to get the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: www.vaccinebookings.health.qld.gov.au
- For the latest advice, see the Queensland Health website directly: https://www.health.qld.gov.au
- You can also keep up to date on the Darling Downs Health Facebook page: www.facebook.com/darlingdownshealth
WHERE TO GET ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Please see the following resources for additional support relating to COVID-19.