January 7, 2022

Walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics are returning to Kingaroy and Murgon.

The Pfizer-only clinics will provide first, second or booster doses to everyone over the age of five.

“Getting vaccinated, or your booster shot if you are due, is one of the best things you can do to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” Darling Downs Health spokesperson Michelle Forrest said.

“It will help protect you, your loved ones and the community from getting seriously sick, or ending up in hospital.”

The clinics will be held at:

Kingaroy Town Hall

  • Monday, January 10, from noon to 4:00pm
  • Tuesday, January 11, from 8:00am to 4:00pm
  • Wednesday, January 12, from 8:00am to 4:00pm
  • Thursday, January 13, from 8:00am to 4:00pm
  • Friday, January 14, from 8:00am to noon

Murgon Town Hall

  • Tuesday, January 18, from 11:00am to 4:30pm
  • Wednesday, January 19, from 8:00am to 5:30pm
  • Thursday, January 20, from 8:00am to 1:00pm

Darling Downs Health says there may be a wait so please be patient.

* * *

Queensland recorded another 10,953 positive cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 7:00pm on January 6.

There are 327 people receiving care in hospital with 14 patients in intensive care and three on ventilators.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned on Friday morning the start of the school year might be delayed by one or two weeks due to the Omicron surge but a plan would be released within days.

Latest official Queensland Health figures show 188 confirmed cases in the South Burnett LGA and 89 cases in the Cherbourg LGA but these figures are more than 24 hours out of date.

southburnett.com.au believes the figure for Cherbourg is closer to 110 but the good news is the number of new infections has been dropping.

Footnote: News Corp is reporting totals to Tuesday, January 4, of 96 (“Kingaroy Surrounds North”), 6 (“Kingaroy Surrounds South”), 45 (Kingaroy), 7 (Nanango) and 5 (Kilkivan).

* * *

The Tamworth Country Music Festival which was to have started on January 14 has been postponed due to changes to COVID-19 safety measures in NSW.

A shorter event will be rescheduled for April.

* * *

South Burnett police are continuing with compliance checks linked to health directives.

This includes requirements to wear face masks, self-isolate in certain circumstances and comply with vaccination entry requirements.

Anyone to whom the direction applies commits an offence if the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the direction.

It is up to business operators to check that their patrons meet these requirements.

The responsibility will also be placed on patrons who must have evidence of vaccination when checking in.

“Thank you to our business operators and patrons who are doing the right thing and following the new direction,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police officers have conducted regular compliance checks at pubs, clubs and dining precincts across the State, and the vast majority of businesses are doing exactly what is expected of them.

“We urge Queenslanders to follow the rules and be respectful.

“Do not take your aggression out on staff and others who are simply trying to do their job – police will not tolerate this sort of behaviour.

“If businesses are experiencing difficult customers who refuse to comply with the rules or leave the premises, they can call police.

“There are fines of $1378 for individuals and $6892 for businesses that fail to comply with the public health directions.”

* * * 

southburnett.com.au has been keeping track of some basic statistics for local Council areas since the re-opening of the State border on December 13.

These statistics, from Queensland Health, show the total number of confirmed positive cases per Local Government Area since the pandemic began in January 2020.

They are NOT the total of current ACTIVE cases but demonstrate how the virus has spread quickly throughout the local community.

We took snapshots on Dec 13, Dec 21 and daily since December 29.

The latest figures are current to 7:00pm on Thursday (Jan 6):

  • South Burnett: 3 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 18 / 21 / 25 / 39 / 52 / 83 / 135 / 188
  • Cherbourg:  – / – / – / 3 / 12 / 21 / 30 / 51 / 61 / 71 / 74 / 89
  • Toowoomba: 52 / 56 / 233 / 312 / 368 / 396 / 463 / 579 / 665 / 751 / 841 / 940
  • Gympie: 7 / 6 / 23 / 26 / 38 / 43 / 48 / 68 / 82 / 104 / 144 / 169
  • North Burnett: 3 / 3 / 5 / 5 / 8 / 9 / 13 / 13 / 14 / 14 / 17 / 21
  • Somerset: 6 / 6 / 14 / 15 / 15 / 20 / 28 / 34 / 38 / 48 / 64 / 104
  • Western Downs: 3 / 3 / 16 / 18 / 23 / 30 / 36 / 48 / 52 / 60 / 89 / 114

NB. Data is reported by Queensland Health daily but can vary over time due to case reviews. When we took the first snapshots, Cherbourg LGA had not been added to the list by Qld Health as no cases had been recorded there. From December 31, data is current to 7:00pm the previous day.

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