A three-day lockdown for Greater Brisbane, including Ipswich, will begin from 5pm on Monday as health authorities move to get on top of contact tracing following the most recent community transmission of COVID-19.
Four new community transmission cases were recorded overnight, bringing the latest local cluster to seven.
Two of the cases were linked to the 26-year-old landscaper from Stafford who tested positive to the highly infectious UK strain on Thursday night. The other two cases are of unknown origin.
The lockdown – which is for Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan and Redlands council areas – means people must stay at home and only leave for the following four purposes:
- To buy essential supplies – food and medications
- Work or study if you can’t do either at home
- Exercise in your local area
- Healthcare or to provide help, care or support
If leaving home, you must carry a face mask with you at all times unless you have a lawful reason not to, and face masks are essential when indoors – except for when you are at home or in your own car. For full details on when you are required to wear a mask visit here.
Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for take-away service.
Schools will be open on Tuesday only for children of essential workers and vulnerable children.
In line with previous lockdowns, people can have up to two visitors to their home. It is okay to exercise in a family group, or if you are by yourself with one other person from a different family group.
Aged care, correctional centres, hospitals and disability service providers will close to visitors across the state for the duration of the lockdown.
The restrictions will be reviewed on Wednesday night, 31 March.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding called on the Ipswich community to adhere to lockdown rules to stop the further spread of COVID-19 across South East Queensland.
“We all know what we need to do to stop the further spread of COVID-19 across the South East Queensland,” Mayor Harding said.
“I urge Ipswich residents to follow the health directive and stay at home over the next three days.
“We need to stand in solidarity with our neighbours in SEQ to stop the virus in its tracks.
“We’ve done it before and we can do it again to keep our community safe, we are a resilient city.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she understood the lockdown would cause disruption and it was a “very, very difficult” decision but the “right thing to do based on the health advice”.
“Today we are declaring from 5pm Greater Brisbane a (COVID-19) hot spot,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It’s going to really depend on how our contact tracers go over the next 24 hours.
“Please do not go and panic buy. You will be able to go and get food as part of this lockdown. The food shops will operate as per usual.
“I know this will mean some disruption to people’s lives. But we’ve done this before.”
To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Stay home if you are sick
- If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested
- Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps
- Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser
- Leave a location if it is crowded.
If you have any concerns about your health, contact your doctor or contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
