MEDIA RELEASE TORRES STRAIT REGION – MAYOR – COVID-19 COMMUNITY UPDATE
COVID-19 Update
The Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) coordinates with the Torres Strait Local Disaster Management Group (TSLDMG) and receives daily updates on COVID-19 cases from Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services. The TSLDMG works to reduce the negative impact disasters can have on communities and responds to disasters when they happen.
Mayor Mosby says, “As Mayor of Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC), it is of great concern to me that despite our remoteness, COVID-19 is currently circulating within our Torres Strait community.” The most recent update has confirmed there are 20 reported new cases in the Torres and Cape area in the past 24 hours. This number is down from 24 reported cases in the previous 24-hour reporting period. The escalation of community transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 throughout the world and across Australia is concerning especially in the light of the Queensland Premier announcing that from 1:00 am Saturday (15 January 2022), Queensland’s domestic border restrictions will be lifted.
Mayor Mosby says:
The safety of our people and communities is paramount, which is why Mayor Malone from Torres Shire Council and I have approached the Queensland Government to seek permission to implement special quarantine and testing measures for people entering our region. We respect that the Government has not enabled those special powers however we strongly believe the TSLDMG best understands the unique challenges of the Torres Strait, and that it should be empowered and given the flexibility it needs to make important informed decisions for our region. Going forward, we will continue to manage all variables, which are within our control, to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19 in our communities. We remain committed to working with Queensland Health as the lead agency to protect our people and communities.
In light of the rise in domestic cases, Mayor Mosby has requested that all agencies (Government and Non-Government), businesses, and residents strongly reconsider non-essential travel into, within and out of the Torres Strait Region during this period to help reduce the risk of further COVID-19 cases and transmission in the Torres Strait.
Further information on TSLDMG activation statuses is available on both the Torres Shire Council and Torres Strait Island Regional Council websites.
Media Enquires:
If you are seeking comment on a particular topic or would like to arrange an interview with the Mayor, please contact:
Office of the Mayor
Contact: Jacob Matysek
Ph: 07 408 32714 | Mobile: 0419 149 558
Email: jacob.matysek@tsirc.qld.gov.au
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