"Central Queensland locals fear coronavirus outbreak from remote workers", 13 April 2020

Community leaders in central Queensland say they fear it is now "too late" to impose tougher restrictions on the mass movements of workers heading to isolated mining communities, after the first coronavirus case was confirmed of a Bowen Basin coalminer.

Locals in towns including Moranbah, Clermont and Emerald have told Guardian Australia they are increasingly anxious that large numbers of remote workers continue to cycle through camps and mine sites on a weekly basis. Some are refusing shifts out of concern for their health.

BHP confirmed...that a Rockhampton-based worker at the BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance Blackwater mine had tested positive for Covid-19. [...]

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BHP said in a statement that the worker's diagnosis was due to the successful operation of screening processes for remote workers before they return to mine sites. It said strict social distancing, hygiene and cleaning practices were in place at the mine.

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Many locals are fearful of the impact of any coronavirus outbreak in a remote location and want the regular stream of fly-in and drive-in workers stopped.

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