Week free of new cases raises spirits
CAIRNS hit a major milestone in its COVID-19 containment efforts this week, with spirits looking up for the long weekend ahead.
The region went a full week with no confirmed cases following last week’s pathology lab scare and also brought its total active cases down from five to four.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the results were tremendous across the state, with only four new cases recorded across Queensland since last weekend.
“Thirty people in Cairns have recovered and the four that remain are all mild cases,” he said.
“When you take into account the concerns about the hospital last week, it appears that all the protocols have been followed and we, along with the rest of the state, can hold our heads high at keeping the numbers going south.
“We have a couple hundred people in quarantine, but the positive thing is that it’s just a precaution, a lot of them from overseas or interstate and at this stage all of their tests have come up negative.”
Mr Healy said many in Cairns had earned their long weekend coming up, where restrictions will be reduced to allow residents to travel, go boating and have picnics within 50km of home.
“After everyone’s been pent up at home, we encourage people to take this opportunity,” he said.
“As always, I stress the need to follow social distancing while we’re out – this is not the time for big gatherings with friends. That time will come later.”
Cairns mum Kristel Walker said she was looking forward to getting out over the long weekend to go for a road trip with her partner and eightmonth-old son Banks.
“I’ve been keen for a very long time to go for a drive, especially after Easter,” she said.
“It’s great for Banks as well, being able to get him out in the fresh air and interacting will be wonderful.”
Ms Walker said she would be returning to work at her retail job at Rip Curl on Saturday, with the road trip on Monday.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it and I hope everyone plays by the rules and keeps social distancing,” she said.
“We all need to keep doing our part to ensure we can start reconnecting with our friends’ circles soon.”
The weather is shaping up to be ideal for the long weekend, with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures of up to 30 degrees, with a 20 per cent chance of showers on Sunday, and 5 per cent Saturday and Monday.