Overview
In the Greater Brisbane region, 2021 started with a snap lockdown and then other COVID-19 restrictions, before returning to the conditions that were in place late last year. Now, with March almost at its midpoint, the entire state is about to enjoy a few changes — which is particularly great news if you like gathering in large groups at home or in public.
This morning, on Thursday, March 11, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced via social media that new eased restrictions will come into effect at 1am on Saturday, March 13. On the cards, just as the weekend begins: letting folks have 100 people over to their house at once, and to gather in groups of 500 outdoors in public.
So, if you've been keen on throwing a house party but didn't want to restrict your guest list to the previous cap of 50, you can now double your fun. You'll need to wait until Saturday night, though, with the previous rules still in place on Friday evenings. For outdoor public gatherings, the cap is going up from 100 — which is a hefty leap.
Also changing: the limits on people at campsites, which could affect your Easter getaway plans for the better (yes, it's almost that time of year). There'll now be no caps, with the rules here being removed altogether.
And, if you feel like you've spent too long waiting for elevators of late, there's a reason for that. Currently, only four people are allowed inside a lift at once, but that's going up to six people.
In this batch of relaxed restrictions, nothing has changed with hospitality and entertainment venues including restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, bars, museums and galleries — so they're still able to welcome in one person per two-square-metres, and allow stand-up eating and drinking, too.
Indoor events remain at 500 attendees, and seated, ticketed venues such as cinemas and theatres have been at 100-percent capacity since January. Outdoor events can still have 1500 folks head along, openair outdoor stadiums remain at full capacity as well, and dancing indoors and outdoors has been back for a couple of months, with the one person per two-square-metres rule in place there as well.
The latest changes come as Queensland reported five new overseas-acquired cases in the past 24 hours, and zero new local cases. The state's current case total sits at 41, out of a pandemic-long total to-date of 1373.
As always, the usual hygiene and social-distancing advice applies — including frequent hand-washing, maintaining a 1.5-metre distance from other people and getting tested if you have even the slightest of COVID-19 symptoms.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.