A Three-Day COVID Lockdown Has Been Imposed on Greater Brisbane

Here's everything you need to know.

From 6pm tonight, Greater Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown to stop the spread of the highly contagious UK strain of coronavirus. 

The news of the lockdown comes after a quarantine hotel worker tested positive for COVID-19. As reported by The Guardian, the woman in her 20s had been working at a hotel that contained patients with the UK strain, which is said to be up to 70 per cent more contagious than other strains of the virus.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the lockdown earlier today. It'll begin from 6pm tonight and will lift at 6pm on Monday 11 January. 

Obviously, this is very much not the news anyone wanted to hear in 2021. 

So, who is going into lockdown? 

The three-day lockdown will apply to residents in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas. 

On top of that, it also applies to people who have been in any of the five affected council areas since 2 January but have since travelled elsewhere.

Can I leave my home?

At this stage, residents can leave their homes for a limited number of reasons. These include essential work, to provide care for a vulnerable person, essential shopping and exercise within local neighbourhoods, medical care, child custody arrangements and legal obligations.

If you do have to leave your house for any of those reasons, you will be required to wear a mask.

From 6pm tonight, it will be mandatory to wear a face mask outside the home (even if you're driving in the car or exercising). In fact, you could cop a fine of $200 if you're caught not wearing one. 

Children under the age of 12 will not be required to wear face masks.

What are the limits on public gatherings? 

During the lockdown, visitors to households are limited to two per day. 

Additionally, funerals will be limited to 20 people and only 10 people will be allowed at weddings, including the celebrant and witnesses. 

Gyms, cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues and places of worship will also be shut, while cafes, pubs and restaurants will only be open for takeaway services.

All essential businesses will remain open, but they'll need to adhere to social distancing requirements. So, if you do need to leave Greater Brisbane for an essential purpose, you should try to limit your movements wherever possible.

No visitors will be allowed at aged care facilities, hospitals, disability accommodation services or correctional facilities. 

At the moment, no cases of community transmission linked to the confirmed case have been recorded. There are currently 23 active cases of coronavirus in Queensland.

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