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Forty new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Queensland with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking the community to mobilise into a "care army", similar to the mud army seen in the 2011 floods.
Key points:
- Queensland has a total of 781 COVID-19 cases with seven in intensive care
- A "care army" has been established to help older Queenslanders
- Several cruise ships will dock in Queensland in the coming days but do not have any passengers
The state has continued its downward trend on new cases, with 781 total cases now diagnosed.
Seven patients are in intensive care.
Ms Palaszczuk said health officials were still trying to predict when the number of cases were expected to peak in Queensland.
"It depends on how we flatten that curve," she said.
"Just so everybody knows, we're not really on the curve at the moment, so we're talking, like I said, about a marathon."
She asked people over the age of 65 to stay at home and younger people to help them self-isolate by reaching out to them via the phone, to buy their groceries, or get their prescriptions.
"We did it in the 2011 floods with the mud army, and now I want you to be part of our care army," she said.
"Queensland's community spirit always shines through in times of crisis."
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A new COVID-19 seniors panel, led by Minister Kate Jones, has been set up to help co-ordinate the care army and launch a community awareness campaign.
The Government said it will expand the community recovery hotline, a free call on 1800 173 349, to link seniors and other vulnerable Queenslanders to essential services and support.
The Premier also revealed several cruise ships were expected to dock in Queensland in the coming days, but they do not have any passengers aboard.
'Enough supplies to protect hospital workers'
Queensland Health Director-General Dr John Wakefield played down concerns about hospitals running low on protective masks and clothing.
The Australian Medical Association today released a survey of 625 frontline doctors, mainly general practitioners, which found 70 per cent reported not having enough protective equipment and some had resorted to making their own hand sanitiser.
Dr Wakefield said there was not a critical shortage in hospitals, but there were issues with the international supply chain.
"I can confirm that we have supplies that are getting to our hospitals," he said.
"What we are working on now across government is to make sure that not only that supply chain works throughout our distribution centres but that we have an ever increasing stockpile that we amass.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
"We've had our own Queensland stockpile, which has kept us in good stead in this pandemic to date and we are working with around about 200 new suppliers. That exists at a Commonwealth level.
"Local manufacturing is our goal."
Health Minister Steven Miles announced today that Townsville health professionals would receive up to $158 million in funding for coronavirus preparations, as part of a $1.2 billion health package announced last week.
Topics: epidemics-and-pandemics, covid-19, federal---state-issues, health-policy, travel-health-and-safety, federal---state-issues, government-and-politics, diseases-and-disorders, infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, brisbane-4000, qld
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