Dr Jeannette Young: ‘Stay home and don’t have visitors’

During past lockdowns we’ve allowed small groups of people in homes. Delta is different, so the rules must be different. Unless essential, stay home and don’t have visitors, writes Dr Jeannette Young.

Queensland, I have always had faith in you. But I do not have faith in this virus.

The latest incursion of Covid-19 into southeast Queensland is deadly serious. It is our biggest outbreak in months and risks being our biggest ever.

The delta strain of the virus is unforgiving, which is why we’ve placed southeast Queensland into lockdown until 4pm Tuesday.

Right from the start, Queensland has gone hard and gone early when we’ve needed to lock down. It has worked. Your willingness to listen and take swift and strong action to help fight the spread of this virus has been our biggest asset in stopping the spread. Thank you.

This time I need you to listen more carefully and adhere more closely to what we’re asking than ever before.

Please stay home unless you need to leave for an absolutely essential purpose. The virus doesn’t move on its own – people spread it.

During previous lockdowns we have allowed a small number of visitors in homes.

Delta is different. So the rules must be different.

Visitors to homes in southeast Queensland are not permitted during this lockdown, except for some essential purposes.

People walk maskless along the foreshore at Bondi Beach in Sydney where transmission between households has been difficult to prevent. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The NSW outbreak has seen significant transmission inside and between households.

It’s difficult to prevent transmission of Covid-19 between families and people who live together. But by restricting household visitors entirely, we reduce the likelihood of spread between different households.

We currently have potential infection in multiple households in multiple parts of southeast Queensland. These next few days are our chance to find these cases and stop this spread.

Please remember if you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and isolate until you get a negative result.

Wear a mask.

Chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, at the COVID-19 press conference at Parliament House. Picture: Richard Walker

Continue checking the Queensland Health website for exposure sites.

Get vaccinated when you are eligible. Vaccines are safe and effective. They help keep you and your loved ones safe.

I know this lockdown is a huge disruption for the region. I am so sorry for that. Please know that I am fighting hard to prevent something so much worse. And I know you are too.

Working hard now – for these three days – gives us the best chance to stop or hold off a bigger outbreak and the restrictions that would come with it. Better that we lock down now for three days and do our best to contain the virus, rather than for three weeks. Or three months.

Stay safe. Stay home.