Brisbane to lockdown to stop COVID spread in Queensland

Greater Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown to stop the spread of the highly contagious UK strain of COVID-19 after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, and Logan will go into lockdown from 6:00pm tonight until 6:00pm Monday.

Anyone who has visited the Brisbane area since 2 January and has since travelled elsewhere, including to the Far North, will also be required to self-quarantine for the same period.

People in affected areas 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 

In Greater Brisbane, masks will need to be worn everywhere when leaving home, while cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for take-away service and funerals are restricted to 20 guests and weddings restricted to 10 guests.

Ms 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.”

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.”