Latest information on Greater Brisbane Region Lockdown
QDN office closure
To do our part in slowing the spread of the virus, QDN has made a number of changes to how we work in line with Queensland Health directives.
The QDN office will be closed from 5pm today, Friday 8 January 2021. Be assured you can still contact QDN staff who will be working from home during business hours. However, please have patience if we are a little slower responding to you, given the circumstances.
At this stage, we plan to reopen the office on Wednesday, 13 January 2021, however, this decision will be finalised based on Queensland Health directives and we will let you know if anything changes.
The QDN team and your Local Support Groups Convenors will continue to work remotely and we are available via our usual telephone, email, website and social media contacts.
We will continue to work hard on the issues impacting our members and Queenslanders with a disability more broadly. More than ever, we know that it is critical to make sure there is nothing about us without us.
QDN will be regularly updating you via email and on our Facebook page. We encourage you to keep up to date with the latest news and keep in touch with us by:
Phone: 1300 363 783 or (07) 3252 8566
Facebook: www.facebook.com/QueenslanderswithDisabilityNetwork
Website: www.qdn.org.au
Email: qdn@qdn.org.au
We thank you for your support as we work together to ensure people continue to stay safe, healthy and with up to date information about this health pandemic.
The latest on Queensland Health directives
General restrictions
From 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6pm Monday 11 January people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except for the following reasons:
- Essential work
- Providing healthcare for a vulnerable person
- Essential shopping
- Exercise in your local neighbourhood
You can find more detailed information from Queensland Health on the Greater Brisbane 3-day lockdown here.
QDN will continue to update the COVID-19 information on our website, which can be found here.
Disability Accommodation Services, Aged Care and Hospital Directives
Queensland Health has released updated public health directions for Aged Care (No 18) and Disability Accommodation Services (No 9).
The major change is that visitors are not allowed in hospitals and aged or disability accommodation services in the following Hospital and Health Service regions:
- Metro North
- Metro South
- West Moreton
Importantly, people providing health, medical, therapeutic, social work, essential disability support or pharmaceutical services to residents of accommodation services are not considered visitors and can continue to work, as usual, wearing personal protective equipment as required.
If you need to attend hospital, there is an exemption in place that allows a support person to go with you – this can be support worker, informal carer, family member or friend. It’s a good idea to talk to the hospital you are planning to go to about this before you arrive. The Hospital Visitors Direction (No 12) is available here – (see Part 1, 11h) and more information on understanding the direction is here.
QDN developed a guide called “Know your rights: Getting the hospital care you need during COVID-19″, which can be found here.
Easy English Guide to COVID-19 Greater Brisbane lockdown
QDN has developed an Easy English guide on the Greater Brisbane three-day lockdown rules.
A word version of the Easy English guide can be found here.
The Word document will be seen at either top of bottom of your browser page. Click on the document to open and then print using your computer’s printing settings.
A PDF version of the Easy English guide can be found here.
You can find general QDN Easy English guides on COVID-19 on our website here.
Information on the mask mandate
QDN has received additional information throughout the day on the mask mandate that is currently in place during the three-day lockdown period.
Everyone in the Greater Brisbane area is required to wear a mask whenever they are outside their home during the lockdown period. Masks are not required while eating and drinking or if an exemption applies. A person affected by a medical or mental health condition or disability may be exempt from wearing a mask under Queensland Health exemptions.
If your health circumstances make it difficult to wear a mask, you do not require formal documentation or evidence and if questioned by police or any other government officials, you should explain that you have a medical condition or disability that means you meet the requirements of the health exemption.
You do not need to wear a mask when inside your home. However, a carer or support worker must wear a mask.
You can watch a great video on how to wear a mask explained by Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan here.