This week it was revealed that Nathan Turner did not die of COVID19. As I said in last week’s newsletter, there has been no official cause of death issued as yet.

I have been spending some time in Blackwater and I am so proud of how the community have come together in what has been a terrible time.

As many readers will already be aware, this week a young man – Nathan Turner, 30 – tested positive to COVID19 after he was found to have tragically passed away in his Blackwater home.

Once again, I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to his fiancée, family and friends. I ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The national strategy on COVID19 has always been adaptation.

The first step was to gain control of the infection rate so that our health systems were not over-run. This was a health imperative.

New changes to COVID19 restrictions come into force from midnight today (May 15). Under the plan, we are all members of the Outback Club – Queensland’s designated Outback Zone for the purposes of COVID19 management.

In a surprise announcement on a public holiday, the Premier has said Preppies, Year One and Years 11 and 12 will be returning to school next Monday, May 11, 2020.

The good news is that, once again, Queensland had no new cases of COVID19 yesterday. This made it the fourth day of zero new cases in Queensland.

The number of active cases had dropped to 84. Eleven people remain in hospital with COVID19. Six of those patients are in Intensive Care.

Today marks 86 days since Queensland’s first case of COVID19. This week Queensland had not one, but two, days with zero cases. This is something to really smile about.

With Australians having done an excellent job at reducing the corona virus curve, National Cabinet met yesterday to discuss what a pathway out might look like.

In my last letter I promised to update you regarding the arrangements for schools and kindys when Term 2 kicks off on Monday, April 20.

These were announced yesterday on Easter Monday. They are a little complicated, so I will try and unpack them for you.

We’ve made it to Easter! In these times, that’s something to celebrate. Sadly, much of this COVID19 update concerns cancellations.