Welcome to 2022! A new year brings changes and new focus. With government no longer focussing on where a person has come from, but rather restrictions within QLD to minimise risk, requires an adjustment in how we think and behave. With less focus on contact tracing and exposure site listings as risk is now in every space, our role is to minimise catching and sharing as best we can.
Over the Christmas period, government decisions and preparations for the arrival of COVID-19 created untenable situations that I had raised last year in Parliament, including questions to the Premier regarding stocks of Rapid Antigen Tests in September, as well personally contacting our testing sites to ensure coverage for incoming visitors. However, no one predicted the speed at which Omicron spread, and that testers with heatstroke would lead to site closures. We were left to resolve each new issue on an hourly basis, and I thank all who took my calls even on Christmas Day to clarify confusing announcements or to access extra resources. Much can be learnt, and we ask all levels of government and commentators to move beyond the ‘blame game’ into the solid logistics needed in managing this virus including grassroots recommendations we have submitted.
With COVID-19 now firmly amongst our communities, as advised many times, hand washing, sanitising, masks, distancing, boosters, fitness, and testing will assist us through this ‘wave’ and those to follow. Whilst there is much commentary that borders should not have been opened at this time, Federal and State government-stipulated reopening at a vaccination percentage to enable all Queenslanders time to access vaccinations. It is now time to focus on the reality that was shared recently that ‘herd immunity’ may not be possible, and there may be a couple of years ahead living with this bug and its variants.
COVID-19 information, including links to testing and vaccination clinics, can be found at www.covid19.qld.gov.au with regular updates to Sandy Bolton MP Facebook page, Noosa 360, www.sandybolton.com and via our newsletter.
We welcome our police home from the borders to assist with our local issues and thank all frontliners who continue to work above and beyond during this time and ask everyone to assist them by not jamming phone lines or emergency departments with minor symptoms.
In amongst the multiple advocacies over this period has been with the Premier and our Small Business Ombudsman to seek long term relief from National Cabinet for our businesses who have suffered incredibly through staff losses leading to closures and became ineligible for federal support once we hit 80 per cent double vaccination status.
Stay well and don’t forget those New Year’s resolutions! Including expressing gratitude for where we live and whom we live amongst. Stay united and focused as we continue our long journey with that unwanted ‘visitor’, COVID-19.