Two new locally acquired cases plunge the Lockyer and Somerset region into lockdown, along with the state’s south east

The Somerset and Lockyer Valley region will plunge into lockdown as of 6pm Tuesday.

The Lockyer Valley and Somerset region will plunge into a three-day lockdown at 6pm Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Two new coronavirus cases in Queensland have plunged the Lockyer Valley, Somerset region, the state’s south east and Townsville into a three-day lockdown as of 6pm tonight.

Residents in both the Lockyer Valley and Somerset region will be house-bound until 6pm Friday evening, the premier announced today.

Lockyer and Somerset residents will only be able to leave home for the standard reasons – for essential education or work, to obtain healthcare services, to care or support a vulnerable family member, exercising, and collecting groceries.

Somerset and Lockyer residents must continue to wear masks when in public, but not when driving a car.

Gyms and sporting facilities in the Lockyer and Somerset will be required to close from 6pm Tuesday night, as will beauty salons, hairdressers and non-essential shops.

The lockdown comes after a 19-year-old was infectious with coronavirus in the community for 10 days, and a central Queensland mine worker who returned home to Ipswich has also tested positive.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday said she was left with no options.

“I’m absolutely furious about this, we need to make sure we are getting our population vaccinated right across the state,” she said.

The 19-year-old is a casual clerical worker at the Prince Charles hospital who works as a receptionist outside the COVID ward.

The teenager travelled to Townsville with family and the premier believes northern regional Queenslanders are now at risk.

“We want to give contract tracers time to get on top of this and stop the virus in its tracks,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The premier said she didn’t want a three-day lockdown turning into 30 days.

Deputy premier Steven Miles slammed international arrivals, saying all Queensland locally acquired cases could be linked to overseas travel.

“Our international borders are supposed to be closed, but every week thousands of people are allowed to travel,” he said.

On Monday, 121 international travellers arrived into Queensland and another 190 are expected to arrive today.

“These are putting out community at an unacceptable risk,” he said.

“Especially these new strains, which are proven they cannot be contained by hotel quarantine.