Update: Several states have enforced strict border measures following Palaszczuk’s announcement this morning. Tasmania has labelled five local government areas in Queensland as high-risk, which means anyone travelling from those areas will not be permitted to enter without quarantining for up to two weeks.
The ACT has also declared greater Brisbane a hotspot. From 6pm Monday, if you’ve returned from greater Brisbane between March 11 and march 14, you will be required to get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result. If you returned from greater Brisbane from March 15, health officials advice self-isolating until at least 6pm on April 1.
And from 4pm Monday, South Australia will impose a hard border with Queensland, meaning only South Australians can enter the state. Any South Australians who enter after 4pm today will be required to do 14 days of quarantine.
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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Brisbane will go into a snap three-day lockdown from 5pm this afternoon. If everything goes to plan, the lockdown will end Thursday 5pm.
Speaking to the press on Monday morning the premier said the lockdown will be enforced for greater Brisbane, which is Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands.
Palaszczuk said masks will be mandatory and gatherings at homes will be limited to just two people. Schools will also close, and restaurants and cafes can only serve takeaway.
However, for the rest of Queensland gatherings at home will be limited to 30 people. Masks will also be compulsory, however hospitality venues can still operate under the rule patrons are seated.
“Health has to come first here. I think the public would be unforgiving if it was out of control,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chief health Officer Jeannette Young said there will be only four reasons to leave your home: to go to essential work, provide healthcare or support for a vulnerable person, do essential shopping, or exercise.
“They will be the same restriction as last year and in January,” she said.
The lockdown comes as four new cases of community transmission were recorded overnight. Two are connected to the exisiting cluster announced last week, however the other two remain under investigation.
Palaszczuk has also announced that international arrivals will be cut by half to ease the pressure of coronavirus quarantine on the state.
“I’ve had word that the prime minister has accepted the halving of those international arrivals,” she said. “As you can see because we’ve got more people with Covid in our hospitals, they are highly infectious and the risk is greater of that being passed on.”
“I think [we were accepting] around 1,300, now that will be halved.”
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