National
No new COVID-19 cases in Queensland as police investigate 'escape attempt'
Queensland has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 as vaccine deadlines for borders reopening get even tighter.
Law enforcement are also investigating an alleged escape attempt by Queensland COVID-19 patient Duran Raman.
9News understands officers are wanting into whether Mr Raman, 36, allegedly experimented with to depart the COVID-19 ward at Gold Coastline University Medical center.
Mr Raman, who tested good to COVID-19 past week, is accused of breaching border limits and travelling to Sydney and Melbourne before returning to Queensland.
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The unvaccinated gentleman was infectious in the Queensland local community for up to 10 times, and health authorities stated he was at first much too sick to appropriately converse.
It was claimed on the weekend that he was in a really serious but steady affliction.
Queensland recorded no new COVID-19 instances on Saturday or yesterday, but law enforcement are also on the lookout into the movements of 7 New South Wales guys who allegedly crossed the Queensland border illegally for a fishing trip.
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Six of the gentlemen have been returned to NSW, with two of them considering the fact that tests optimistic to COVID-19.
A person of them was infectious while in Queensland.
As of yesterday, police were nonetheless unsure of the whereabouts or COVID-19 position of the seventh member of the group.
Travel fears for Queenslanders
Queensland's interstate borders are set to open on December 17, indicating unvaccinated inhabitants now have just six days to receive their initially dose.
The condition will have to have the administer 30,000 vaccines a day in purchase to get to its vaccine targets.
Flight Centre founder Graham Turner instructed Now he was nervous Queensland may well never attain 90 for every cent vaccination, indicating worldwide travellers could be trapped acquiring to quarantine.
He has identified as for the condition government to explain why Queensland is keeping to a 90 for every cent restrictions for ending quarantine, compared to 80 for each cent for New South Wales and Victoria.
It is in regional Queensland that vaccine prices are least expensive, like Mackay.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson attributed the lower take-up to “complacency”.
“We've not experienced any COVID listed here in our location,” Mr Williamson informed Right now.
“We had about 15 situations in April-May possibly final calendar year, all returning travellers, and considering the fact that then a lot of men and women have been doing the job challenging to maintain it protected in the region.”
He claimed Mackay's relatively youthful median age of 38 intended many locals experienced been ineligible for the vaccine for a prolonged interval.
Mr Williamson mentioned with point out borders opening up, fears of new lockdowns remained.
“This is a location of Australia that produces for the national financial state and Queensland financial system, and we just can't bear the imagined, notably for the resources sector, the agricultural sector and the tourism field up here, we simply cannot bear the thought about lockdown as a risk,” he said.
“So the obvious message is, our location is prepared for a 20 for every cent unvaccinated level, that's what our emergency strategies are carried out on.”
He reported there were being 150 COVID-19 beds in the Mackay Medical center, along with 24 ventilators.
“If we are not at the 20 for each cent unvaccinated, that's where the difficulties start and so I've bought to say our region around the past months, we've seen great vaccination figures,” he claimed.
And he urged the vaccine hesitant to get on board.
“There's 3.5 million Queenslanders that have obtained the jab. There ought to be no worry in this,” he said.
“You've just acquired to get out and get it carried out.”
