New restrictions as fears grow over detention centre cluster
Tough new COVID-19 restrictions impacting about 3 million people have taken effect, limiting social gatherings and locking down aged care homes. Here’s what you can and can’t do, and how long these restriction are likely to remain in place.
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Gatherings will be capped at 10 people and aged care homes will close to visitors for at least two weeks as authorities work to contain the state’s latest COVID-19 outbreak.
About 3 million people living in the Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Somerset and Redlands regions face an anxious fortnight with gatherings in homes and public places restricted to a maximum of 10 people.
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Aged care and disability care facilities in those regions shut their doors to visitors on Saturday morning and will remain closed for two weeks.
Outside the Greater Brisbane region gatherings will be restricted to 30 in public places and homes.
A 10-person restriction on gatherings has not been implemented since April, and Queensland
The restrictions are effective immediately.
Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the latest move was a precaution.
“This is a really important action we need to take,” she said.
“At the moment we don’t know who may have the infection,” she said.
“I’m just being ultra-cautious because I believe that is the best way we can all manage this.”
Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said officers would enforce the new restrictions “seriously”.
“We will act with compassion and use communication, but we need your compliance,” he said.
“For anyone who blatantly decides to disregard those restrictions there will be consequences.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged people to social distance and said it was “our biggest weapon against this disease”.
There is no change to restrictions on places like gyms, cafes and pubs where a Covid-safe plan has been approved.
Community sport and larger sporting events will also be permitted to go ahead as usual.
Dr Young said there was no change to the retail and hospitality sectors at this stage because of “excellent” Covid-safe plans.
“That is because we’ve got excellent Covid-safe plans, I’ve seen them myself, they are excellent, for our commercial venues, for our pubs and clubs, restaurants and cafes,” Dr Young said.
“We’ve got excellent Covid-safe plans for our community sport, for our sporting facilities and I’m very confident about those.”
“I know that people will do things differently in their own home … so that’s why people can only have gatherings of 10 in their own homes, so we go back to where we were in March and April.
“This is a really important action that we need to take this weekend,” Dr Young said.
“I’m confident that we’ll manage it, we’ll get on top of it, but it’s by doing these things that will do that.”
Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the six new virus cases announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Saturday was “obviously disheartening”, after Dr Young urged people in the Greater Brisbane area to consider staying at home this weekend.
Mr Gschwind said his industry was committed to safety, however, admitted the new cluster would create further pressure on an industry already struggling.
“This seems to be an endless road through darkness,” he said.
“It is an emotional rollercoaster which is very difficult for businesses to maintain.”
Mr Gschwind said it was difficult for tourism businesses to stay abreast of the changes.
“The ramping up and down is a very difficult prospect for any sized business,” he said.
“It takes an emotional toll on all of us including business operators who are really at the end of their tether.”