FIFO, DIDO and all resources industry workers based in the Mackay region are encouraged to get vaccinated at the vaccination hub at the Mackay Showgrounds, which will soon ramp up to 1000 appointments per day. The Mackay Hospital and Health Service has advised that bookings are preferred, but that walk-ins will not be turned away.
Please see below the latest information from the Department of Resources. This bulletin provides resources companies and peak bodies in the resources sector with the latest information on COVID-19 and how it relates to the sector. Entering Queensland from the NSW border zone The Delta outbreak in NSW is escalating, and currently presents a real threat to Queensland. That’s why it’s critical that we do everything we can to minimise any risk for the virus to spread across our border. This is why we’ve implemented tighter controls on movement across our border than ever before. Queenslanders should not enter New South Wales.
QRC COVID-19 Working Group spoke about the following (actions in bold): The QRC is exploring the possibility of a COVID vaccine facility at Brisbane Airport to be located at the Pullman Hotel. A trial of the vaccination of FIFO/DIDO workers returning to Brisbane after their shift in regional Qld may be available as soon as next week. The QRC will advise members as details become available. Please advise the QRC with an estimate of how many individual staff members may require vaccinations at this facility per week. Please direct your advice to Kylie Barron: kylieb@qrc.org.au. QRC has already been in touch with three 3rd party medical providers accredited to administer the Pfizer vaccine. If you are aware of an alternative 3rd party provider you wish to use who can safely prepare and administer the vaccine, then please advise the QRC.
Please see below the latest information from the Department of Resources. Please note of particular importance the bolded sentence under 'COVID-19 vaccinations'. This bulletin provides resources companies and peak bodies in the resources sector with the latest information on COVID-19 and how it relates to the sector. Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown To protect the health of Queenslanders, the Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas are in lockdown until 4pm on Wednesday 11 August.
Masks Following the lifting of the lockdown of 11 SE Qld LGAs, FIFO workers from those LGAs working outside the areas are now able to leave their accommodation when not at work. The requirement to wear masks at all times unless it is unsafe to do so or when sitting to eat or drink will remain in place for a further 2 weeks. Companies should remain extremely vigilant in regard to social distancing, mask-wearing and testing, and isolating any worker with symptoms or who has been identified as a close contact. FIFO/DIDO Vaccination Also of importance is the CHO’s decision to prioritise the vaccination of FIFO/DIDO workers along with teachers and transport drivers. To qualify as a FIFO/DIDO worker, the worker should be Queensland based and residing in accommodation which is not their normal place of residence while performing their work anywhere in Australia or PNG.
Mr Macfarlane opened the call and thanked members for joining. Mr Macfarlane advised that The Honourable Scott Stewart, Minister for Resources would be joining the call, along with the Department of Resources and Regional Mayors. The CHO remains optimistic that the current lockdown in the 11 LGA’s in SE Queensland may be able to be lifted at 4.00pm on Sunday 8/8/21. Member companies are encouraged to remind their workforce to obey all current restrictions that are in place if they are or have been in any of the 11 LGA’s since Friday 30th The resources industry must continue to set a good example in order to protect its workforce and the community it works in and to avoid any unfavourable media coverage. QRC has been advised that a determination from the CHO, not at the request of QRC, means FIFO and DIDO workers will be prioritised for vaccination, regardless of age. QRC is engaging with the State Government, Queensland Health and the Office of the Queensland Vaccine Operations Coordinator for further details about how this will work in practice. QRC remains of the view that regional communities should be vaccinated at the same time as the mining workforce.
The CHO has today confirmed that resource industry workers can continue to travel to work during the 72 hour lockdown where necessary. Companies are encouraged to minimise travel from the 11 locked down LGAs wherever possible. Workers travelling from the lockdown areas should carry ID and, if possible, be able to identify as a resource industry worker i.e. a letter or payslip from the company they work for or travel in high vis with the company’s logo on it. Please find below the latest information on COVID-19 from Department of Resources and how it relates to the resources sector: South East Queensland lockdown South East Queensland is in lockdown for three days, while contact tracers work to understand the extent of COVID-19 potentially circulating in the community.
QRC COVID-19 Working Group spoke about the following (actions in bold): The CHO has announced a further one-week extension of the requirements to wear a face mask if you are in the identified SE Qld LGAs or have been in those LGAs in the last 14 days. Persons who have visited those SEQ LGAs must wear a mask as per SE Qld until next Friday 6th August unless they have been outside the LGAs for more than 14days There has been some confusion about Border arrangements. For gas field workers travelling between operations in the NE South Australia and SW corner of Qld, exemptions are in place but workers are required to be tested within 7 days of arrival in Qld and every 7 days. For FIFOs in the NSW ‘bubble zone’, identified in the map the QRC distributed on Saturday, workers in that area can travel anywhere in Queensland for work-related purposes. They must apply for an entry pass into Queensland. It is preferable for resource companies, not contractor companies, to apply for specialist/essential worker exemptions when bringing workers into Queensland from hot spots.
Please find below the latest information on COVID-19 from Department of Resources and how it relates to the resources sector: Face masks restrictions From 6am AEST Friday 23 July until 6am AEST Friday 30 July, Face mask restrictions will continue to apply for South East Queensland. Border restrictions From 1am AEST Friday 23 July 2021 all of New South Wales will be a declared hotspot. A New South Wales border zone will come into effect at this time. This means New South Wales border zone residents can only enter Queensland for a permitted purpose, and Queensland residents can only enter the New South Wales border zone for a permitted purpose. You can cross the border from a border zone community for an essential activity, work, education or organised children's sport. See the full list of permitted purposes. You cannot cross the border for recreation or tourist activities or events, exercise or for a holiday.
Update on lockdown of 14 LGAs The Premier will make an announcement at 10 am tomorrow, (Friday 2 July) regarding the ending of the current lockdown as scheduled at 6pm Friday 2 July or its extension past that time. Indications from today’s briefing have been described as “promising” in regard to the ending of the lockdown on schedule. Mandatory Vaccination of FIFO Workers As a result of this FIFO worker being infected and travelling to a mine in the NT, there is now a push by Western Australian and Queensland Premier's to mandate vaccination of FIFO/DIDO workers.
