The Queensland government has announced a three-day lockdown for Brisbane and its surrounding areas. Starting Friday January 7 at 6:00 pm, residents in the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands will be required to stay at home until Monday, January 11 at 6:00 pm. Not only will residents in these areas be under lockdown but masks must be worn when leaving home — this includes workplaces and public transit.
Residents are only permitted to leave their homes under four conditions:
- to purchase essential items like groceries and medications
- to complete essential work or study which cannot be done at home
- to seek healthcare or to provide care and support for a family member
- to exercise
It’s recommended that residents who do leave their home stay within their community and not travel far.
During the lockdown restaurants and cafes are only permitted to provide take-away and home delivery services. Attendance at events has also been capped to 20 people at funerals and 10 people at weddings (where dancing and singing in not permitted).
The tougher measures have been put in place after a cleaner for a Queensland quarantine hotel tested positive for the UK variant of coronavirus which is much more infectious than previous strain of the COVID-19 virus.
“Think of it as a long weekend at home” Queensland's Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said. “If we do not do this now it could end up being a 30-day lock down.”
