ENTSCH’S SECRET COVID CASE
WARREN Entsch kept a suspected case of Covid secret from his staff, the general public and Queensland Health authorities, in a revelation that has shocked even his chief adviser.
Now Mr Entsch (above) has refused to provide specific dates or explain why he decided not to inform his staff. Mr Entsch mentioned his previous infection in conversation with several journalists during a campaign trip to Cooktown this week.
Repeated questioning has now elicited some answers – but not all of them.
WARREN Entsch kept a suspected case of Covid secret from his staff, the general public and Queensland Health authorities, in a revelation that has shocked even his chief adviser.
Now Mr Entsch has refused to provide specific dates or explain why he decided not to inform his staff.
Mr Entsch mentioned his previous infection in conversation with several journalists during a campaign trip to Cooktown this week.
The disclosure surprised one of his most senior advisers, who was present during the conversation and queried him for details. Repeated questioning has now elicited some answers – but not all of them.
Mr Entsch claimed that he did not register the case with Queensland Health authorities because “RATs (rapid antigen tests) weren’t easily available at the time”.
He did not initially provide specific dates for his isolation period, despite being asked.
“Warren believes he had a mild case of Covid while on leave at his farm earlier this year,” a spokesman said.
“Warren didn’t tell the community as he couldn’t confirm he had Covid.”
Mr Entsch’s spokesman remained vague about dates for his isolation period after further questioning from the Cairns Post.
“Warren believes he started to feel unwell on or around January 1, 2022,” he said.
“He isolated on his farm in Malanda during this time.” Again, he did not provide specific dates.
Mr Entsch’s Facebook account showed that he attended the Kapani Stand Down open day at Bilwon Farms near Mareeba during the weekend of January 8-9.
If his isolation period began on January 1, which he has not confirmed, the visit would have been just outside the seven-day isolation period.
The former crocodile farmer, who has eight election wins under his belt, has refused to offer further details of his seven-day isolation.
A request was made for a statement from any staff member confirming he informed them at the time of his illness. Contemporaneous emails, text messages or other correspondence showing he mentioned his suspected Covid infection to anybody whatsoever were also requested.
All requests were refused. Reporters were also told by Mr Entsch in Cooktown that his wife and daughter had contracted Covid at some stage.
Mr Entsch has declined to provide dates.
However, the spokesman said that Mr Entsch was on his farm, while his family members isolated in their Yorkeys Knob home.
The spokesman said the MP’s diary manager could confirm that he isolated during those periods, but would not offer further evidence.
“We have answered your questions comprehensively yesterday and therefore will be making no further comment,” he said.
News of the mystery Covid case came a week after Mr Entsch made his negative feelings towards mandates known at a candidate debate in Cairns.
“I absolutely disagree with them,” he said.
“I personally have been grossly inconvenienced by mandates in the past.
“I question their requirement or the necessity, and I’d like to see the bloody things gone,” Mr Entsch said.