Coronavirus (COVID-19) HomeCoronavirus (COVID-19) Western Downs Regional Council is working closely with the Queensland and Australian Governments to help the region recover from the impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our priority is the health and safety of the entire Western Downs community and we continue to comply with advice provided by the relevant authorities. If you require health advice, please contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus. If you require emergency assistance, dial triple zero (000). Council Services, Facilities and Events Council is acting and operating in accordance with advice provided by the relevant authorities and will keep the community informed of any updates to Council facilities, services and events. Waste collection services and waste facilities are operating normally. You can contact Council’s Customer Contact Centres via phone or email for Council-related issues by phoning 1300 COUNCIL (268 624) or emailing info@wdrc.qld.gov.au. Also keep informed by following Council on Facebook www.facebook.com/wdrc.info and Instagram: www.instagram.com/westerndownsrc Queensland Health Information To help slow the infection rate, Queensland Health advises that individuals should take the following steps: Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based rand sanitisers Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing Avoid touching your face, nose and mouth and avoid shaking hands Stay home if you are unwell Avoid close contact with others – keep a 1.5 metre distance where ever possible Keep up to date with social distancing measures implemented by State and Federal Governments: www.covid19.qld.gov.au For further health information relating to COVID-19, contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus Useful Links – General For information about Queensland Government assistance packages visit: www.qld.gov.au/about/industry-recovery For information about Federal Government assistance packages visit: www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus Useful Links – Business Support Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise business support information: www.tsbe.com.au/coronavirus-support State Government business support information: www.treasury.qld.gov.au/programs-and-policies/covid19-package/ Federal Government business support information: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business / Queensland border restrictions: www.qld.gov.au/about/newsroom/queensland-border-restrictions Safe Work Australia: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-employers Federal Government announcements: Regularly updated with information and messages from the Federal Government – www.australia.gov.au Download the Federal Government’s Coronavirus App – www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/coronavirus-australia-app State Government announcements: Latest updates from the Queensland Government – www.covid19.qld.gov.au Supporting households and individuals: Available assistance packages provided by the Australian Treasury – https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/household Information on available Centrelink support payments (including JobSeeker) for those affected by COVID-19 – www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/affected-coronavirus-covid-19 Evictions put on hold for next 6 months for commercial and residential tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 – www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/a-hold-on-evictions-for-renters JobKeeper payments and support (NB: this can only be applied for by eligible businesses in order to pay their employees) – https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/jobkeeper Supporting businesses: Federal Government Grants, Services and support – www.business.gov.au State Government Grants, Services and support – www.business.qld.gov.au Summary of assistance by the Australian Treasury – https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses Jobs Support Loans from Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority – Link and guidelines fact sheet here Tourism and events advice from Tourism & Events Queensland – https://teq.queensland.com/industry-resources/industry-resilience/update-on-covid-19 Evictions on hold for 6 months for commercial and residential tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 – www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/a-hold-on-evictions-for-renters JobKeeper payments – https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/jobkeeper COVID-19 Health information and guidelines: Telehealth services – www.health.qld.gov.au/telehealth Alerts from Queensland Health – www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19 Chief Health Officer Directives – www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers Schools and Education: Five student free days have been declared: Monday 30 March – Friday 3 April – https://qed.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/novel-coronavirus Update as of Monday 13 April – Queensland school students will be learning at home for the first five weeks of Term 2, with schools only open for the children of essential workers. More information here. Resources for parents teaching at home available at https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home Free childcare for parents who require the service to continue work – www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19 Queensland border closures: Queensland Government – www.qld.gov.au/about/newsroom/queensland-border-restrictions Fact sheet also available here Assistance and free extra data from Telstra Free 25GB for post-paid and 10GB for pre-paid – www.telstra.com.au/covid19/supporting-you-during-covid-19 Assistance and free extra data from Optus Free 20GB for post-paid and 10GB for pre-paid phone plans, plus unlimited data for eligible home broadband plans – www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/coronavirus-support Assistance and increased data for NBN services: Updates from NBN including working from home tips and FAQs – click here Information about home confinement, movement and gatherings for Queenslanders Explanation on new rules here – www.qld.gov.au/about/newsroom/home-confinement-for-queenslanders