Overview
Plenty of things can change in just a few days during a pandemic, as everyone around Australia already knows. But in the latest instance in Queensland, a number of COVID-19 restrictions have just been tightened — only days after they were eased on Friday, June 25.
Since 1am on Friday morning, Queenslanders have been able to have as many people as they like over to their houses, and to gather in hospitality businesses at a density of three people per four-square-metres. That changed again at 6am this morning, Monday, June 28, however, with stricter requirements now in place for the next two weeks.
Wondering what's changed? The at-home gathering limit is now back to 100 people, including children and infants. And, at bars, cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs, the one person per two-square-metres cap is back in effect.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the rule reversions on Sunday, June 27, noting that the changes were being made to help the state counter the potential spread of the Delta variant — the strain of COVID-19 that's behind New South Wales' current outbreak. In an effort to stop the variant spreading to Queensland, the Sunshine State has already closed its borders to Greater Sydney, which was placed under a two-week lockdown on the weekend.
Other eased restrictions that came into effect on Friday haven't been rolled back, so Queenslanders can still hang out with more folks in the great outdoors — and at galleries, museums, convention centres, theatres, gig venues and cinemas. Outside, there's no longer a limit on how many people can gather. For venues with seated and ticketed capacity, they can fill to 100 percent.
Of course, whether those looser rules will remain in place will depend upon COVID-19 cases in Queensland. Also yesterday, Queensland Health announced that three community acquired cases had been identified — with an alert first issued for Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, followed by a further case who transited through the Brisbane Airport before heading to the Sunshine Coast.
Queenslanders are asked to keep social distancing, maintaining the hygiene practices that have been in place since March 2020, and checking the state's list of exposure sites — and to get tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible 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.
Top image: Atlanta Bell.