Queensland Closes Border to Interstate Fly-In Fly-Out Workers

US Ambassador Calls on Countries to Release Religious Prisoners Amid Pandemic

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom called on governments to release their religious prisoners amid the current pandemic. One of the countries singled out by the ambassador was China. “It’s a good public health move for their nations and it’s morally obviously the right thing to do. We, unfortunately, have a number of religious prisoners around the world in various countries that are being held,” ambassador Sam Brownback said during a briefing on April 2. He explained that COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, could easily spread in prisons given the tight space. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Brownback called on several…

As of midnight April 4, Queensland’s borders will be closed to all non-critical fly-in-fly-out聽resource sector employees who work in Queensland but live interstate, as the government seeks to protect regional and remote communities from the COVID-19 disease.

Mines Minister Dr. Anthony Lynham announced the decision in a statement on March 31. “The resources sector is essential to maintaining a strong Australian economy.

“It is critical that we move now to prevent people who may have been exposed to the virus bringing it to Queensland.

“Queensland has no known cases in our remote regional communities, and restricting these workers from entering the state will remove a possible transmission route,” he said.

Exemptions will be granted to “critical resource sector workers” who are essential to safety, operations, and time-critical work.聽Examples include workers required to conduct safety maintenance and compliance activities; workers involved in the implementation of emergency response; workers who must hold a competency to undertake a task; workers employed in technical operations, maintenance and repair, essential construction, warehousing and logistics; specialist technicians; and medical service workers.

“Exempting critical people will ensure that resources projects can continue to produce the mineral and energy resources we need,” said Lynham. “Most importantly, these critical people will ensure projects operate safely for the workers on site.”

Queensland Closes Border to Interstate Fly-In Fly-Out Workers

The new border restrictions issued by Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr. Jeanette Young applies to anyone trying to enter the state.

In addition, all returning residents to Queensland must self-isolate for 14 days, regularly wash their hands, limit travel out of the home or workplace to purchasing food and essentials, and remain 1.5 meters (4 feet) away from others.

On Jan. 29, the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services made an order declaring a public health emergency for all of Queensland, which is in effect until May 19.聽This is the third stage of border restrictions for Queensland under these powers.

Each state and territory has its own entry requirements. Out of Australia’s eight states and territories, only New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory don’t currently have border controls. Authorities are encouraging people to assess and prove their need to travel across borders.聽Significant penalties can apply to anyone who doesn’t comply.

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China Probes Alleged Fraud at Luckin Coffee, Banks Review IPO Work

HONG KONG/BEIJING—China’s securities regulator said on April 3 it would investigate claims of fraud at Luckin Coffee Inc., and sources said some of the banks involved in the Chinese chain’s successful U.S. IPO last year were reviewing their work in the listing. Shares of Luckin, which competes in China with Starbucks Corp, sank as much as 81 percent on Thursday in New York after it announced an internal investigation had shown its chief operating officer and other employees fabricated sales deals. The company said it had suspended COO Jian Liu and employees reporting to him, following initial recommendations from a special committee that was appointed to investigate issues in its financial statements for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2019. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said on Friday it…