The latest COVID lockdown will end at 4pm today after South East Queensland record single digit cases for the first time in nearly a week.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, out of her own two-week quarantine, announced the end of the lockdown, but with various restrictions remaining for the next fortnight.
There were nine new cases overnight, seven of those linked to the Indooroopilly cluster. There was one case from the Gold Coast and one from Cairns, a taxi driver who had been infectious in the community for the past 10 days in a case the Premier described as very worrying.
South East Queenslanders will have to keep wearing masks for the foreseeable future. And there are new rules in place for high school students wearing masks at school.
The Premier said some limited restrictions around weddings, funerals, gatherings at home and attending cafes, restaurants and retail outlets would continue and advised the public to check the government’s new COVID road map.
Ms Palaszczuk said community sport would not be permitted for the next two weeks, acknowledging people would be disappointed by this measure.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said it was a great relief to the community to hear the lockdown had been lifted.
“This is the news we had all been hoping for. It has been an amazing effort by the Ipswich and SEQ community. Thank you all for continuing to do the right thing: stay home, wear masks, get tested and get vaccinated,” Mayor Harding said.
“I would like to say a special thanks to the south-east’s Lockdown Legends who have played a vital role in stopping the spread of the Delta strain in Queensland.
“Council facilities will start reopening from Monday morning, which is further good news for our people, and I urge you to check council’s website for full details on this. Let’s hope we can keep the Delta outbreak at bay going forward.”
Authorities called on people to remain with the 11 local government areas and not to travel to regional Queensland unless absolutely essential during the next two weeks of restrictions.
Read here for further information
Testing clinics
To find a COVID testing location near you, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics
Lockdown
The South East Queensland lockdown is currently until 4pm Sunday, 8 August 2021.
People in the local government areas of Ipswich, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast are in lockdown.
Residents in South East Queensland can only leave home (which includes temporary accommodation such as a holiday rental) for essential purposes:
- Obtaining essential goods or services, including healthcare
- Exercising in your local area – it can only be within 10km of your home, and within 10km of your personal trainer’s home if you are exercising with a personal trainer
- Attending essential work or school and childcare for the children of essential workers or vulnerable children
- Assisting a vulnerable person or family member
- Obtaining a COVID-19 test or vaccination
You must carry a face mask with you at all times. You must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, read the public health direction here for full details.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia.
People with coronavirus may experience symptoms such as:
- fever
- coughing
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- runny nose
- fatigue
- diarrhoea
- vomiting or nausea
- loss of smell and/or taste
Other symptoms can include muscle or joint pains or loss of appetite.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, call your doctor or 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested.
