Glenn Butcher MP
MEMBER FOR GLADSTONE
Useful Links:
For the latest updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are available through the following link:
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status
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Face mask requirements are available through the following link::
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/face-masks
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Contacts:
General enquiries, feedback, complaints and compliments: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
COVID-19 related enquiries: 134 COVID (13 42 68)
Gladstone COVID-19 Testing Clinic: 4920 5800 (6am - 8pm)
UPDATE: There's been another day with no confirmed positive cases in Gladstone, which is great news. I'm advised that there have been more than 1,500 tests conducted in 3 days at the Gladstone drive through.
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I'm also told that on Tuesday there were more than 660 tests in at the Gladstone drive through clinic which was the most tests done at any fever clinic across the whole of Queensland.
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That's a huge effort from locals and I want to thank everyone for not only doing the right thing, but also their patience during the process.
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The clinic will be open 7am to 6pm each day over the long weekend - so if you're sick or have flu-like symptoms, please get tested. A number of temporary safety measures will remain in place for all of Queensland.
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The Chief Health Officer Dr Young said this morning these precautionary restrictions are in place to keep everyone safe, with the Brisbane lockdown lifted and people traveling across the state.
The following restrictions will be in place for two weeks until 12 noon on Thursday 15 April 2021:
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* You must continue to carry a mask with you whenever you leave home, and wear it in indoor venues
* Hospitality venues can open for seated eating and drinking only, and no dancing is allowed
* Private gatherings are restricted to 30 people
* Businesses can re-open with one person per 2m²
* Outdoor events can go ahead with a COVID-safe plan, but masks must be worn if social distancing isn’t possible
* Church services will be allowed 100% occupancy with ticketed or allocated seating or adhering to the one per 2m² rule
* Restrictions on aged care, hospitals, disability care and correctional facilities will apply with no personal visitors allowed during this period.
COVID-19 UPDATE: No reported cases of community transmission in Gladstone this morning.
Some encouraging news this morning that there have so far been no cases of community transmission of COVID-19 detected in Gladstone.
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Thank you to everyone who has come forward to be tested and thank you also for your patience as our fantastic frontline health workers deal with a difficult situation.
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We still have a few days to get through so I just want to remind everyone to keep following the health advice closely.
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That means if you're sick or have flu-like symptoms, get tested and self-isolate at home until you've received your results. Keep social distancing, make sure you're staying 1.5m from other people and not shaking their hands.
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Carry a mask with you everywhere you go and wear it in all indoor venues - and outdoors when you can't socially distance.
And make sure you're practicing good hand hygiene, washing your hands for 20 seconds and using hand sanitiser where available.
I'm proud of the way our local community has responded to this situation, let's keep it up so we can all enjoy our Easter break.
Thanks to everyone who contacted me and mentioned on social media about your challenges finding a face mask in Gladstone and CQ after the health directions changed yesterday. I’m pleased to tell you that I worked hard yesterday with Keppel MP - Brittany Lauga and we have secured face masks which will be delivered to Gladstone and Central Queensland this evening.
Our local Disaster Management Group will be distributing Face masks as early as tomorrow to organisations who have the ability to hand them out including My office in Goondoon St, Keppel Office and Rockhampton Office.
Police will also be making masks available to those in need around chemists, supermarkets and shops as required. I will update tomorrow on locations you can pick up some masks.
COVID-19 UPDATE
As the Premier said this morning, there have so far been no positive cases of COVID-19 detected in the Gladstone region overnight. However, there is a lag between testing and results so it's more important than ever for everyone to stay vigilant over the coming days.
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That means making sure we're all observing the 1.5m social distancing requirement and not shaking hands with people. It means carrying a mask with you and wearing it in all indoor venues - and outdoors when you can't socially distance. Making sure we're practicing good hand hygiene, washing hands for 20 seconds and using hand sanitiser where available.
If you've got flu-like symptoms get tested and isolate at home until you get your results. I know our local community has a great collective spirit and if we work together and do the right thing, we can come through this and get back to regular life.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Gladstone Hospital will open a drive-though COVID-19 testing clinic at the Palm Drive/Blain Drive Sporting complex from 6.30am to 6pm Tuesday 30 March.
The Gladstone Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic will not be operational while the ‘drive through clinic’ is open.
You are encouraged to make a booking by calling 4920 5800 (6am to 8pm). If you can not get through, please be patient and keep trying. The volume of calls has caused disruption to our telephone system across Central Queensland just has the volume has caused disruption across the Greater Brisbane area.
Also be aware that there are visitor restrictions in place for aged care, hospitals, disability care and prisons.
As more information becomes available, the Queensland Health website (www.health.qld.gov.au) will be updated, including extensive question and answers.
Please click the link below for the latest important COVID-19 update from the Premier, Minister for Health and Chief Health Officer:
The new Covid Testing Drive through has been inundated this morning, I understand people are anxious and are looking to get tested but please allow the staff to get through this early rush. There will be lines set up for booked people but hard to get set up with hundreds of people trying to get tested.
I have already received a call from police saying that they are being abused because people can’t get in, please just calm down and as this goes on the booked lines will be established and operating as they should. Thanks for those that have booked, I apologise for any inconvenience, CQHHS, nurses staff and police are doing the best they can to get people through this morning.
Gladstone Hospital will open a drive-though COVID-19 testing clinic at the Palm Drive/Blain Drive Sporting complex from 6.30am to 6pm Tuesday 30 March. The Gladstone Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic will not be operational while the “drive through clinic” is open.
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You are encouraged to make a booking by calling 4920 5800 (6am to 8pm). If you can not get through, please be patient and keep trying. The volume of calls has caused disruption to our telephone system across Central Queensland just as the volume has caused disruption across the Greater Brisbane area.
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Also be aware that there are visitor restrictions in place for aged care, hospitals, disability care and prisons.
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As more information becomes available, the Queensland Health website (www.health.qld.gov.au) will be updated, including extensive question and answers.
Please click the following link for updated information about the COVID-19 situation in Gladstone:
IMPORTANT UPDATE: New update on close contacts from three venues in Gladstone from Queensland Health. Please follow the below advice:
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Close contacts – quarantine for 14 days and complete the contact tracing self-assessment.
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If you have been to any of the below locations at the relevant times you should:
- quarantine at home immediately for 14 days since attending those venues at those times
- complete the contact tracing self-assessment if you have not already been contacted by Queensland Health in relation to this potential exposure. If you are unable to complete the online contact-tracing self-assessment please call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- stay quarantined even if you get a negative test until 14 days have passed since you were last there. It can take 14 days before you may show symptoms or test positive.
A man who visited the Gladstone Region from March 25 - 27 has returned a positive Covid 19 result. To date all his close contacts have returned a negative result which is great news for the Gladstone Region. As we currently have no community transmission in Gladstone Queensland Health has not enforced the 3 day lockdown on our community, however if you have attended the venues below on the following dates, and during these times, or you have any symptoms please get tested immediately.
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THURSDAY 25 March
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Gin Gin Bakery 1.26pm to 1.33pm casual contacts
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Miriam Vale Star Roadhouse and Caravan Park 2.35pm to 2.45pm casual contacts
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FRIDAY 26 March
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Spinnaker Park Café 222 Alf O’Rourke Drive 10.22am to 11.23am. All staff and patrons close contacts
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Stockland Gladstone Coles Kin Kora 12.09pm to 12.33pm casual contacts
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Stockland Gladstone including BWS West Gladstone 4.46pm to 5pm casual contacts
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Auckland House, 60 Flinders Parade 7.23pm to 9.30pm. All staff and patrons close contacts
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SATURDAY 27 March
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Auckland House, 60 Flinders Parade 7.33am to 8.20am. All staff and patrons close contacts.
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CQHHS has increased fever clinic hours across the next 3 days. Anyone with any symptoms at all should present for testing. To contact and book a test ring 4920 5800. Please note that the CQ COVID-19 testing hotline is currently in high demand and you may have a longer than normal wait time on the phone.