Townsville’s virus fears on rise again

IT’S been a long time since Townsville has had to be concerned about the coronavirus pandemic but the ship that anchored off the coast last night has many locals worried.

Two COVID-19 infected crew members aboard the Globe Electra, are expected to be moved to the Townsville University Hospital today according to a Queensland Health press release.

That’s as much information as the Townsville Bulletin could squeeze out of the Health Department.

An email to it yesterday asking about how the two sailors would be treated and transferred to Townsville Hospital without putting the community at risk went unanswered.

As usual, in this coronavirus pandemic, Queensland Health has only given news organisations basic information to share with readers.

It was left up to local GP Michael Clements to quell fears, put out by a federal government spokesman, that they were worried about other crew being infected by the disease.

But Dr Clements said there was no need for the community to be concerned about the ship anchoring off the coast.

“I’d be relaxed about them coming, because Queensland Health are certainly ready, the hospital is ready, the training, the protocol and the equipment (is all in place),” Dr Clements said.

“The protocols mean they’re going to be able to move them from the ship to the hospital if they need to, or to quarantine.”

Dr Clements said the health community had learnt from the Victorian outbreak that quarantine breaches were a top priority.

Let’s hope so.

A northern outbreak now would be catastrophic for business and the community.