Heightened vigilance as virus threat soars
POLICE have busted a woman trying to lie her way through the southern Gold Coast border blockade.
The incident, in which the woman’s partner was arrested by NSW police, happened on Friday amid fears Queensland is threatened by a second wave of coronavirus, with the state tightening restrictions at the border to include banning all residents from Sydney – which is deemed a COVID hotspot.
Queensland Chief Medical Officer Jeanette Young warned health directions “only go so far in combating ignorance, recklessness, arrogance and naivety”.
“Either we continue to contain the virus or we suffer a second wave,” she said.
“While fines and penalties deter most people from wrongdoing, they cannot undo rash behaviour, which is a major threat to our ability to manage COVID-19.”
Dr Young’s stark message came as testing ramped up following the return of three young women – Haja Timbo, Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu – to Queensland this week after allegedly partying in a Melbourne Airbnb and then returning via Sydney, allegedly to hide the fact they had been to Melbourne. Queensland’s border remains shut to Victorians.
Police allege the trio from Logan and Brisbane lied about travelling to hot spots.
Two of the women, Muranga and Lasu, tested positive to coronavirus and have been in hospital under guard.
Meanwhile, police said the woman nabbed at the border had been fined and a travel companion arrested by NSW police after trying to enter Queensland from Sydney hot spots.
The Brisbane woman, 25, was intercepted at a Coolangatta checkpoint early Friday. She had a valid pass and her vehicle was registered in Queensland, but an interrogation by police found she spent time at Fairfield and Campbelltown in Sydney.
The man travelling with her had a warrant for arrest in NSW. The woman was slapped with a $4003 fine and denied entry after refusing to pay for hotel quarantine.
Gold Coast Chief Superintendent
Mark Wheeler said: “This is a perfect example of how random checks can catch people out even if they have a valid border declaration pass.”
He said police “did a very diligent job questioning the driver”.
Supt Wheeler said 15 people had been fined at checkpoints since the border reopened to all states but Victoria on July 10. Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool had since been declared hot spots and the population of the whole of Greater Sydney was to be blocked from entering Queensland from 1am Saturday.
Premier Annastacia Palasczcuk warned of border delays and urged Queenslanders to band together to beat the virus.
More than half a million tests have been conducted across the state.
“We all need to do our part to keep our loved ones safe,” Ms Palasczcuk said.
Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski appealed to motorists to be patient and said about 8000 people were expected to stream in from interstate on Friday before the Sydney lockout.
On Friday, Queensland recorded a new case linked to community transmission – a 27-year-old man in quarantine.
The state has had a total of 1083 confirmed cases. Eleven are active, five people are in hospital, 1066 people have recovered and six have died.
The surge in cases continued in Victoria, where 627 new infections and eight deaths were added on Friday to a mounting tally. NSW recorded 21 new cases.
Gold Coasters have been urged to maintain social distancing and good hand hygiene, to stay home if unwell and to get a COVID-19 test if they believe they have symptoms.
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has issued a rallying cry for Queenslanders to call out those who flout social distancing rules, revealing she’s not shy in reminding people to do the right thing.
And her plea has been backed by one of the nation’s top social demographers who said it was a Queenslander’s duty to tell people to respect the 1.5m distance rule.
The Premier urged everyone to call out those who do the wrong thing amid concerns Queensland’s greatest risk is complacency.
Ms Palaszczuk often has conversations with people including stakeholders and while travelling throughout the state.
“If you see someone not doing the right thing, call them out, I do,” she said.
“This is a very serious situation and of course over the weekend I want Queenslanders to really think about social distancing (and) keep up the good hand hygiene, it is absolutely important.
“If you are going into a crowded venue, you need to make sure you social distance or you leave if you do not think that social distancing is being adhered to.”
She insisted now was not the time for complacency, saying “complacency is our enemy”.
The social demographer, David Chalke, said some might think it’s likely to spark aggression if they tell a stranger in the street to respect the 1.5m distance rule but it was their duty.
“In this time of extreme risk then the threat to life is more important than allowing people to be defiant or exert their individualism,” he said.
“There was an overwhelming spirit of everyone working towards the common cause during the World Wars and that is what is needed in this pandemic.”