Greater Brisbane lockdown and Queensland restrictions

The Greater Brisbane region has now entered a three-day lockdown and increased restrictions are in place across Queensland as evidence of community transmission of the UK strain of COVID-19 continues to emerge.

The Greater Brisbane region includes: 

• Brisbane City Council; 
• Logan City Council; 
• Moreton Bay Regional Council; 
• Ipswich City Council; and 
• Redland City Council.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the three-day lockdown would be reviewed on Wednesday and allow Queensland Health to carry out vital contact tracing.

“This is the UK strain. It is highly infectious. We need to do this now to avoid a longer lockdown,” the Premier said.

“Just like the lockdown in January, this is designed to be a circuit breaker to limit community spread as much as possible.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the three day lockdown would limit community spread of COVID-19.

“With significant community transmission and many venues of concern throughout Greater Brisbane, this lockdown is essential to protect the community,” Dr Young said.

“We need this time to allow our contact tracers to get in touch with close contacts, identify any at risk locations and alert the community.

“It’s really important people follow the restrictions. I know it’s difficult, but we don’t implement these measures lightly – we want to keep Queenslanders safe,” she said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it was important that people with COVID symptoms continued to get tested.

“We have had over 11,000 tests in the last 24 hours so we thank everyone for coming forward for those tests and we want that to continue,” the Minister said.

“It’s important to follow the health advice to keep you and your family safe and the rest of Queensland.”

Greater Brisbane restrictions

From 5pm Monday 29 March to 5pm Thursday 1 April 2021, people in Greater Brisbane (Brisbane City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Ipswich City Council and Redland City Council) will be required to stay at home except for essential reasons. The restrictions will be reviewed on Wednesday night.

You can only leave your residence (which includes temporary accommodation such as a holiday rental) for limited permitted purposes such as:
obtaining essential goods or services, including healthcare

• exercise 
• attending essential work or childcare
• assisting vulnerable persons

You should stay in your local area wherever possible. 

You can only have two visitors to your residence (excluding volunteers and workers). Anyone residing at the residence from 5pm 29 March 2021 will be considered a member of the household.

You can exercise away from your home with your household group and/or one other person not from your household.

You must carry a face mask at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as: 

• shopping centres and supermarkets
• hospitals and aged care facilities 
• indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance) 
• public transport, taxis and rideshare, and waiting places or queues for this transport
• airports and travelling on planes.

Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.
Masks do not to be worn outside when exercising unless you cannot socially distance.

A person may remove their mask when sitting down to eat, undertaking strenuous exercise and for employment purposes. 

Non-essential businesses are not allowed to operate. Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, hairdressers, beauty and personal care services, gyms and places of worship will all close.

Schools will close until next term, except for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. Childcare centres will remain open. 

Restaurants and cafes can provide take away or home delivery services only. 

Funerals will be limited to 20 people, and weddings will be limited to 10 people, including the celebrant and the couple.

Statewide restrictions on aged care, hospitals, disability care and correctional facilities will apply with no personal visitors allowed during the lockdown period.

Anyone attending these facilities in Greater Brisbane, including staff, must wear a mask. People will still be able to visit their loved ones who are at end of life.

Anyone who was in Greater Brisbane on or since Saturday 20 March 2021 is required to follow the same lockdown rules even if they are no longer in Greater Brisbane. You must only leave your home for the essential reasons and wear a mask.

You can return to your home outside of Greater Brisbane, but you must follow the same lockdown rules when you return home, regardless of where your destination is. 

Those leaving the Greater Brisbane area during this time may do so for essential reasons or to return home, but must also remain at their residence and limit their movements until the lockdown period has ended.

If you live outside Greater Brisbane, you can transit through Greater Brisbane without stopping.

Rest of Queensland restrictions

Due to travel outside of Greater Brisbane of some cases during their infectious period, the below restrictions will apply to the rest of Queensland: 

• Gatherings will be restricted to 30 people in homes
• Anyone attending food or beverage establishments such as restaurants, cafes and pubs must be seated.
• Personal visitors will not be allowed in aged care, hospitals, disability care and correctional facilities and there will be increased PPE requirements.

Queenslanders living outside of Greater Brisbane, and who have not been in Greater Brisbane at any time since 20 March, must carry a face mask at all times when they leave home, unless they have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as: 

• shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
• hospitals and aged care facilities 
• hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (not required for patrons while seated; customer facing staff only) 
• churches and places of worship 
• libraries 
• indoor recreational facilities and gym (except if doing strenuous exercise)
• indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance) 
• public transport, taxis and rideshare, and waiting places or queues for this transport
• airports and travelling on planes.

General advice

If you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people in an outdoor setting (eg - busy walkways and thoroughfares), it is strongly recommended to where a mask. 

Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.

Queensland Health has also issued a Public Health Alert for parts of Greater Brisbane and Central Queensland regions in relation to the latest cases. For the latest information related to these locations, visit the Queensland Health website. 

Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue or loss of smell and/or taste.

To find your nearest testing clinic, visit  https://www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing