Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the additional restrictions placed on Ipswich and Greater Brisbane will be eased from 1am Friday, 22 January.
Wearing masks will no longer be mandatory in indoor public spaces.
Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redlands areas return to the roadmap restrictions from December which brings those areas back in line with the rest of the state.
Gatherings will be back to 50 people allowed to come into your home and 100 in public spaces.
“If we go back to that one per two square metre rule in our pubs and cafes and in our restaurants which is great news, but can I also remind everyone – don’t forget to continue to leave your contact details at these venues,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“It is absolutely critical that you do that.
“For people having a wedding this weekend – 200 people can attend and, of course, all guests can dance indoors and outdoors and funerals also up to 200 people.
“So this is wonderful news today and, look, can I sincerely thank the people of Greater Brisbane in those local government areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton, you have done an absolutely terrific job.
“And because of that, it means that the masks also can come off except, of course, where National Cabinet has mandated that the masks must be worn in our airports and on planes.”
There was one new case of COVID recorded overnight in Queensland which was a flight crew member from overseas.
The person has already departed the country back on an Emirates flight.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said it’s been 14 days since the last case linked to the cluster.
“Today we’re 14 days from when the last case related to that cluster went into quarantine and we have done an enormous amount of testing throughout Greater Brisbane and we have not found other cases.”
“So that is really good. We did see those three initial cases all transmit to their closest contacts so that gives evidence that this is a particularly infectious strain.
“We had that initial gentleman from the UK who gave it to his partner. We had the cleaner who gave it to her partner, and we had the lady from – who returned from Lebanon who gave it to her father because they were staying in the same room.
“So we saw that but we haven’t seen any further spread which is fantastic.”
All 1,200 contacts from the initial case of the UK strain, the hotel cleaner, have all been tested and come back negative except for the six cases in the cluster.
Dr Young reiterated the most important strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to get tested if you are having any symptoms at all.
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These current restrictions are in place until 1am, Friday, 22 January for the Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redlands areas.
Restrictions at a glance
- You must carry a mask at all times.
- Masks must be worn in indoor places including shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, places of worship, libraries, public transport, and taxis and rideshare vehicles.
- Masks must be worn in workplaces if social distancing isn’t possible and it’s safe to do so.
- You don’t need to wear a mask in private vehicles, while outdoors at a safe distance from other people or if you’re doing strenuous exercise.
- Businesses and venues can have one person per 4 square metres indoors and one person per 2 square metres outdoors.
- Smaller venues up to 200 square metres can have one person per 2 square metres up to a maximum of 50.
- You must be seated to eat and drink, and no dancing is allowed except at weddings.
- Gatherings are restricted to 20 people in homes and public spaces.
- Weddings and funerals can have up to 100 people, and dancing is allowed at weddings without restrictions.
- Indoor concert venues and theatres can operate at 50 per cent capacity or one person per four square metres, whichever is greater.
- Outdoor stadiums can operate at 50 per cent capacity with COVID-safe plans.
- Restrictions on visits to hospitals, aged care, disability accommodation and prisons will remain.
Ipswich, Brisbane, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redlands areas will return to these COVID restrictions from 1am, Friday, 22 January 2021.
Restrictions at a glance
- Gatherings: 50 people allowed to gather in homes and 100 in public spaces across Queensland.
- Indoor premises: One person per two square metres (e.g. restaurants, cafés, pubs, clubs, museums, art galleries, places of worship, convention centres and Parliament House). Indoor play areas and unattended amusement and wellbeing machines) within a premises can open with a COVID Safe Checklist.
- Wedding ceremonies: Up to 200 people can attend a wedding and all guests can dance (both indoors and outdoors).
- Funerals: Up to 200 people can attend a funeral.
- Indoor events: 500 people permitted at indoor events with a COVID Safe Event Checklist. Larger events require a COVID Safe Plan.
- Ticketed venues: 100 per cent capacity at seated, ticketed venues with patrons encouraged to wear masks on entry and exit (e.g. theatre, live music, cinemas and indoor sports). Performers can distance from audience at two metres, except choirs which remain at four metres from the audience.
- Outdoor events: 1500 people permitted at outdoor events with a COVID Safe Event Checklist. Larger events require a COVID Safe Plan.
- Open air stadiums: 100 per cent seated capacity (with a COVID Safe Plan). All patrons encouraged to wear masks on entry and exit.
- Dancing: Dancing is allowed in all indoor and outdoor venues including outdoor music festivals, pubs, beer gardens, clubs and nightclubs, subject to the one person per two square metres rule.
- Contact tracing information: All hospitality industry businesses (i.e. pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafés) in Queensland must comply with electronic contact information collection requirements.
