Staff of Warwick Hospital arrived at work last Friday to find 14 ‘Stars of Hope’ with handwritten messages lining the front of the hospital.
The messages were of hope, faith and love, from members of the Warwick community.
A spokeswoman for the Darling Downs Health region of Queensland Health said “it brought smiles to the faces of our staff, who are working hard on the frontlines to look after the Warwick community”.
“We are thankful for this kind and beautiful gesture, and proud to serve all of our communities,” the spokeswoman said.
While there have been no known instances of local health workers and others being threatened during COVID-19 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today – Monday 27 April – that those who “deliberately cough, sneeze or spit on public officials and workers including shop assistants could be fined up to $13,345 under a new COVID-19 Public Health Direction”.
The Premier said the government is “acting to protect workers serving Queenslanders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“Our retail workers, police and paramedics deserve to be protected – I was disturbed to hear stories of people threatening to deliberately infect frontline staff,” the Premier said.
“It’s disgusting and I want police to throw the book at them.”
Health Minister Steven Miles said that while the risk of infection was low because there were so few cases, incidents could be very distressing for staff.
“Imagine going to work one day and having someone cough over you and then having to wait to see if you got sick,” Mr Miles said.
“That’s the kind of distress this is causing people.”
The Direction allows for a $1,335 on the spot fine or a court ordered penalty of up to $13,345.
During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, any person who intentionally coughs, sneezes or spits at a public official or a worker, or threatens to do so, can be fined up to $13,345. They may also face criminal charges.
A public official or a worker is anyone at work or travelling for work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Health workers and Health Department officials
• Police, fire and ambulance officers
• Retail workers
• Food delivery workers
• Transport workers including ferry, bus and train crews and taxi and ride-share drivers
• Council workers
• Electricity, gas and water meter readers
• Airport workers
• Teachers and school staff
REGIONAL UPDATE…
Of the 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far recorded in the Darling Downs Health region 39 of those have recovered. Those cases have included two deaths – the one remaining active case is in Toowoomba.
• For the latest Queensland Health data visit – www.health.qld.gov.au/covid-data
