The Attorney General’s Department has released details of a State-wide blitz to enforce Coronavirus quarantine orders, saying that most Queenslanders are complying.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Yvette D’Ath said the blitz showed that 93 per cent of individuals were complying and staying home as required.
“There are currently around 3,500 Queenslanders under quarantine or self-isolation, and they hold the fate of five million fellow Queenslanders in their hands,” Mrs D’Ath said.
“We need them to stay at home; not to go to the shops; not leave home for exercise; not have visitors around,” she said.
“You’re not being asked to stay home for the rest of your life, just 14 days.”
She said anyone who broke quarantine — “even if you just take the dog out for a walk” — would be automatically fined $1,334, and in some cases up to $13,345.”
Mrs D’Ath said Queensland’s Coronavirus Enforcement Taskforce was growing in capability.
“Around 500 Public Servants are in line to undertake online training for contact tracing to create a ready-reserve for potential deployment to public health units,” she said.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said the Government was continuing to ramp up its contact tracing, monitoring and enforcement efforts.
“Contact tracing is essential in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus and that’s why we’re pouring even more resources into it,” Mr Miles said.
“A total of 500 staff from across Queensland’s Public Service have been identified to be mobilised if required to support the Public Health Units with contact tracing. If a surge of cases happens, we have more staff ready to go.”
He said measures to ensure that those in quarantine stayed in quarantine included 3,410 random telephone calls, 2,000 text messages, and 158 home visits.
Of the home visits, eight were non-compliant, including six who returned to NSW, and two who had illegitimate details.
There were also two who claimed they needed to seek medical treatment and one was not at the location and was under further investigation.
