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Greater Brisbane lockdown to be lifted at midday

The Greater Brisbane lockdown, which includes Ipswich, will come to an end at midday on Thursday, just in time for the Easter long weekend.

It comes as Queensland recorded one community acquired case of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, which has been linked to the PA Hospital nurse cluster.

More than 34,700 COVID-19 tests have been completed over the past 24 hours.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland had met the requirements to lift the Greater Brisbane lockdown.

“As I said yesterday, we are looking at two preconditions before we can lift the lockdown,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Those two preconditions is that there needed to be no unlinked community transmission and the second was high testing rates.

“Well I can also thank Queenslanders, because Queenslanders have come out in their thousands to be tested. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

“There have been 34,711 tests – another record.

“That is good news for Queensland, and Easter is good to go.”

Ms Palaszczuk said a number of temporary safety measures will remain in place for all of Queensland.

“For the next two weeks, from 12 noon today until Thursday 15 April, all Queenslanders will be required to carry a mask when they leave their home,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We will also ask you to wear those masks in indoor spaces such as shopping centres and supermarkets, indoor workplaces, public transport.

“Anyone attending food or beverage establishments, so if you’re out there going to a restaurant or café or a pub, you must be seated.

“We are doing this for the next two weeks because we are not out of the woods yet.

“The lockdown has been lifted in Greater Brisbane, but we are not out of the woods yet, so I am asking all Queenslanders for the next two weeks, if we all do the right thing we can get through this together.”

Gatherings at private residences will also be restricted to 30 people, there will be no dancing in public venues and businesses must comply with the one person per two square metres rule.

Outdoor events can proceed with a COVID-safe plan in place. If you are outdoors and can’t socially distance, you are encouraged to wear a mask.

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed Easter church services could proceed.

“This is really important for many people across Queensland, and of course those services and Easter Mass can go ahead,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It will be one per two square metres, so most churches have that in place, but it can be 100 per cent capacity if people are seated and have it ticketed. The churches know how to do that.

“So that’s further good news.”

Ms Palaszczuk encouraged Queenslanders travelling over the Easter long weekend to take care on the roads.

“I understand a lot of families in Greater Brisbane have made plans, and the last thing we want to see are accidents on our roads at 5pm this afternoon in to the evening,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“So if you have plans, the lockdown is lifted from 12 noon today, and I encourage people to take care on the roads, please be safe and enjoy your time away with family and friends.”

An additional nine cases were recorded in hotel quarantine in Queensland over the past 24 hours, however the Premier said she had “no concerns” over these cases.

There are currently 82 active cases of COVID-19 cases in Queensland.

Visit Queensland Health’s COVID-19 hub for the latest information, including contact tracing locations.

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