Ipswich, along with 10 other local government areas, will enter a three-day lockdown from 4pm on Saturday 31 July in a bid to stop the spread of the Delta COVID-19 variant in the state.
Seven new COVID-19 cases were reported in Queensland overnight, one in hotel quarantine and six confirmed locally acquired cases.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the six locally acquired cases were all linked to the case notified on Friday, an Indooroopilly State High School student who lives in Taringa.
“The new cases are their family members, both parents and two siblings and a medical student who tutors the student as well as a staff member from Taringa, which is where one of the siblings attends” he said.
“It is confirmed that these cases are all the Delta strain. That is the strain that is currently driving the outbreak in Sydney. We know from that experience that this Delta strain can spread very, very quickly.
“These new cases now mean there are seven cases in the outbreak we notified yesterday. The only way to beat the Delta strain is to move quickly, to be fast and to be strong. This will be the strictest lockdown we have had.”
The 11 local government areas covered by the lockdown are Ipswich, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Logan City, Noosa Shire, Redland City, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said she spoke with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young this morning and understood this to be the strictest lockdown South East Queensland has faced yet.
“These latest COVID-19 cases are the Delta strain which represents a different challenge to what we have faced in the past. This strain is very contagious,” Mayor Harding said.
“It’s important we take this lockdown extremely seriously to avoid a prolonged lockdown as has happened in Sydney, where NSW now have 14 fatalities linked to the state’s Delta outbreak since 16 June.
“I encourage everyone in the community if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how minor, to please get tested.
“Please remember grocery shops, takeaways and hardware stores remain open and stocked. There is no need to stockpile or rush out to buy groceries.
“Let’s stay home and stay safe, Ipswich.”
From 4pm on Saturday 31 July residents of those areas can only leave home for the following four reasons:
- To obtain essential goods, for example groceries and medications. But only within 10km of your home.
- Essential work, school or childcare. School or childcare is only for essential workers or vulnerable families. High schools will for the first time have masks for everyone in the school.
- Exercise, only with one person who is not from your household, and only within 10km of your home.
- Healthcare, to care for somebody who needs assistance, to get a COVID-19 vaccination or to get a COVID-19 test.
No visitors are allowed at homes within the 11 impacted local government areas. Funerals and weddings will be restricted to 10 people.
Non-essential businesses are not permitted to open. Hospitality – pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants – are restricted to takeaway only.
Cinemas, places of worship, hairdressers, entertainment venues and gyms will all be closed.
Grocery stores will stay open throughout the lockdown, so there is no need to rush stores to stock up on items.
The restrictions apply to anyone who has been in the 11 local government areas from 1am on 31 July 2021.
On Friday, three Ipswich locations were added to the Queensland Health contact tracing alerts list.
They were:
- Thursday 29 July, 8am-9am: Ipswich CBD Community Vaccination Clinic, Ipswich Mall, 20 Nicholas street
- Thursday 29 July, 8am-9am: Nicholas Street Mall, Ipswich Mall, 20 Nicholas Street
- Thursday 29 July, 9am-10am: Ipswich Hospital Fever Clinic, Court Street
Full contact tracing venue details and Queensland Health instructions can be found here.
Queensland Health is asking all Queenslanders to regularly monitor the list of exposure venues on the Queensland Health website and follow public health advice.
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.
