Urgent Steps to Keep Queensland Safe

Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown to stop the spread of the highly contagious UK strain of COVID-19.

From 6pm tonight until 6pm Monday, people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except:

• to attend work if you can’t work from home;
• to buy essentials like groceries and medicine;
• look after the vulnerable; and
• exercise within their neighbourhood

Masks will also need to be worn everywhere in those local government areas except if people are at home.

Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for take-away service.

Funerals will be restricted to 20 guests and weddings restricted to 10 guests.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the measures follow confirmation late yesterday that a cleaner from a quarantine hotel had tested positive.

“There are no second chances with this pandemic,” the Premier said.

“That’s why I’m asking people to have a long weekend at home.

“We have learned from Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales that a short, sharp lockdown is better than a long one and this a more contagious strain.

“Three days is better than 30.”

The Premier said she once again called on Queenslanders to protect each other.

“All we can do is stay home and stay safe and please get tested,” the Premier said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said extra testing clinics with more staff had been opened.

“We want to see as many people tested as possible and people stay home and stay safe,” the Minister said.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said it was essential to stop people moving through the community.

“We know that to stop the spread of the virus we have to stop the movement of people and test, test, test,” Dr Young said.

“Queenslanders have done a tremendous job of containing this virus for so long- we just have to keep it up.”

Media contact: Shane Doherty 0439 624 473

Guidance regarding movement in and out of Greater Brisbane:

• Stay at home and in your neighbourhood
• People can choose to enter Brisbane during this period but are bound by the same restrictions for this period. Where possible people are encouraged to delay travel
• People can enter greater Brisbane to attain health care
• People should not leave Greater Brisbane during this period
• Non-residents currently in Greater Brisbane are strongly encouraged to remain until the end of the restriction period.

Reasons for leaving home:

• Essential education and work, although work from home where possible
• Health care or support of a vulnerable person
• Essential shopping but within your local area
• Exercise in your neighbourhood (local area) with no more than one person from your household

Restrictions:

• Masks are to be worn at all times when outside of your place of residence, this includes in workplaces and public transport
• 20 people can attend funerals, 10 people can attend weddings (no dancing or singing)
• Limit of two visitors in homes
• Restaurants and cafes to provide takeaway service only
• Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, gyms etc to close
• Places of worship to close