From 6pm today, south-east Queensland, Townsville, Magnetic Island and Palm Island will go into lockdown until 6pm on Friday.
These include the local government areas of Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast.
Residents are allowed to leave home for four reasons:
- To buy essentials such as groceries or medications
- Work or study if you can’t do either from home
- Exercise in your local area
- Healthcare or to provide help, care or support
BREAKING: Parts of Queensland will go into a three-day lockdown from 6pm today. Local Government Areas: Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast. #covid19 pic.twitter.com/shR5rk449z
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 29, 2021
There are currently 41 active cases in the State, with close to 15,000 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.
Fever clinics will be set up on Magnetic Island and in Townsville.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was “no option” but to go down this path.
“The risk is real and we need to act quickly, we need to go hard, we need to go fast,” she told reporters.
Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for takeaway or home delivery, and visitors to private homes will be limited to two.
Funerals are allowed up to 20 people, and weddings up to 10 people, including the celebrant and witnesses. Masks must be worn outside of the home.
Aged care, correctional centres, hospitals and disability service providers will be closed to visitors.
“The risk is real and we need to act quickly, we need to go hard, we need to go fast.” – Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Cases of concern
Of the four new cases acquired overnight, two are from overseas and two are in the community.
One is a miner from Ipswich, connected to a Northern Territory mine, and was already in home quarantine. They are considered to be of low risk.
The other case is a concern. She is a 19-year-old casual, clerical worker from The Prince Charles Hospital who worked outside a COVID-19 ward and was not vaccinated.
Two of her family members and a friend are also sick and being tested. She travelled between Sandgate and Townsville last week. It is not known at this stage what strain of the virus she has.
“Despite the health directives that she should’ve been vaccinated, she was not,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I am absolutely furious about this. We need to make sure that we are getting our population vaccinated right across the State.”
Tuesday 29 June – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
Two new locally acquired cases.
Two new overseas acquired cases.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/bFkGTaEeyH
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 29, 2021
“I don’t want to see people end up in our hospitals on ventilators.” – Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Reduction needed in overseas arrivals
Ms Palaszczuk is concerned about the large volume of overseas travellers coming into Queensland.
“The reason why we are having lockdowns in major cities is because the overseas arrivals are bringing the virus here, they’re going into hotels and all of our staff are having to deal with it,” she said.
On average, there are 150 arrivals from overseas a day, with about 190 arrivals today, Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Hotel quarantine is just not the answer. We need a massive reduction in overseas arrivals because the overseas arrivals are bringing in these contagious strains,“ she said.
The premier understands that the next few days will be difficult.
“I know this is going to be tough for a lot of families. I apologise for that but I don’t want to see people end up in our hospitals on ventilators,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
About the author: Amy Cheng writes for Hope Media. She has over five years’ experience in the media industry across social media, print and digital platforms. Her work has been published in The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph and on news.com.au. Amy loves hearing stories about ordinary people who have been transformed by God’s extraordinary work.
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