Overview
Brisbanites, prepare to start feeling a big dose of deja vu. Folks in the rest of southeast Queensland, and in Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, get ready to spend the next three days at home as well. In these areas of the Sunshine State, a new lockdown will come into effect from 6pm today, Tuesday, June 29 — running for three days until 6pm on Friday, July 2.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news in her daily press conference, with the stay-at-home conditions coming into effect due to the state's latest COVID-19 cases — including in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. One case has also recently travelled to Magnetic Island and Townsville while infectious, which is why those areas will also go into lockdown.
"This is absolutely essential and we want to make sure that we stop the virus in its tracks," said the Premier. "This is really important that everyone does the right thing. I know Queenslanders will. These are tough decisions. We have had two extensive meetings this morning about this. We have to take the advice of Dr Young. I have accepted that advice."
If you're wondering what counts as southeast Queensland, it covers the 11 Local Government Areas that were put under new restrictions yesterday, Monday, June 28: Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Ipswich, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley and Somerset. Folks in these LGAs, as well as residents of Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, will return to the rules that've been in place during previous Queensland lockdowns — as happened in Greater Brisbane in both January and March 2021, and statewide in March 2020.
So, that means you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons — to head out for essential work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Otherwise, you must stay at home during the three-day lockdown period.
As part of the lockdown, there is a limit of two visitors in homes. Masks are already compulsory in southeast Queensland, and will be required to be worn everywhere in the lockdown areas — other than if you're at your own home.
Cinemas, entertainment venues, recreational venues, beauty and personal care services, and gyms will all close, as will places of worship, while cafes, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to open for takeaway service.
Also, folks who decide to come to any of the areas going into lockdown during the stay-at-home period will be bound by the same restrictions, although travel is discouraged — and no one should leave their locked-down area during this period.
And, if you decide to leave southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island before 6pm tonight, you must still go into lockdown and follow the conditions no matter wherever you are.
As it has been during the pandemic so far, Queensland Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any.
The Greater Brisbane area will go into lockdown from 6pm on Tuesday, June 29 6pm on Friday, July 2. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.