Greater Brisbane Will Ease Back to Pre-Lockdown Restrictions From January 22

Ever-changing COVID-19 rules and requirements were a part of ordinary life last year — and, in Brisbane, in 2021 so far too. But after a hectic January that saw the Greater Brisbane region go into lockdown for three days, then emerge to other restrictions including mandatory mask-wearing, life in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas will return to the conditions that were in place in December 2020.

This morning, on Thursday, January 21, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed that the current restrictions that have been in place since January 11 will end as planned at 1am on Friday, January 22. As the state's Chief Health Office Jeannette Young advised at the same press conference, Queensland has now reached 14 days since the last case linked to the most recent cluster, giving the authorities confidence that the present rules can be lifted.

The Premier called the announcement "absolutely tremendous news", and detailed exactly what'll be back on the cards. Because the state is reverting to December's status quo, it should all sound familiar — and yes, you'll be able to spend more time in more places with more people.

Gatherings at home will go back up to 50 people, and to 100 people outdoors in public. And, weddings can have 200 attendees, as can funerals.

Hospitality and entertainment venues including restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, bars, museums and galleries will be able to have one person per two square metres. You'll also be able to stand while you're eating and drinking, too.

Indoor events can welcome in 500 attendees, and seated, ticketed venues such as cinemas and theatres can go back up to 100-percent capacity. Outdoor events can have 1500 folks head along, while openair outdoor stadiums can return to full capacity as well. Also, dancing indoors and outdoors will be back again, with the one person per two-square-metres rule in place there as well.

After more than two weeks of donning face coverings, Brisbanites will no longer have to wear masks in most situations, either — except in airports and on planes, as required by the Federal Government. That said, it's still recommended that folks wear masks if they can't social distance.

The news comes as Queensland reported one new overseas-acquired case in the past 24, and zero new local cases.

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.

Top image: Atlanta Bell.