Live breaking news: Brisbane sent into lockdown as four new COVID-19 cases recorded

Dozens of popular venues have been added to a list of exposure sites across two states as the Brisbane COVID cluster continues to grow.

Ally Foster

@allyjfoster

less than 2 min read

March 29, 2021 - 6:10PM

Greater Brisbane to be plunged into 72-hour lockdown from tonight

Dozens of popular venues have been added to a list of exposure sites across Queensland and NSW as the Brisbane COVID cluster continues to grow.

Queensland has recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, including four locally acquired infections.

Two are known contacts of previous cases and two are under investigation. All of the new cases have been confirmed as the "highly infectious" mutant UK strain of the virus, prompting a snap three-day lockdown for Greater Brisbane.

"That lockdown will be for greater Brisbane, which is Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands and will commence at 5:00pm this afternoon," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

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Lockdown begins in greater Brisbane

Greater Brisbane's three-day lockdown is officially in place.

"I know this is difficult, but it's the right thing to do based on the health advice," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wrote on Twitter.

"For now, I want to say thank you to all of you for staying home.

"Staying home means staying safe."

4:59pm: 5:00pm: pic.twitter.com/HMfmvWhSjd
— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) March 29, 2021

A reminder that this means residents in Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands can only leave home for the following four reasons:

To buy essentials like 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

Northern Territory declares hotspots in greater Brisbane

The Northern Territory Government has declared several regions in Brisbane as hotspots.

All travellers to the Territory from these areas will be required to go into mandatory supervised quarantine.

Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton, Brisbane and Toowoomba council areas will be declared hotspots in the NT from 4.30pm (local time) today.

Popular Byron venue 'closed effective immediately'

Popular Byron Bay venue The Farm will close "effective immediately for a full deep clean" after being issued with a venue alert in the wake of a growing infection cluster in Brisbane.

"We have been advised by health authorities that a guest who has since tested positive for COVID-19 visited The Farm yesterday Sunday 28th March between 8 – 9:30am," the venue wrote on Instagram earlier.

"If you visited us during this time, you should get tested and self isolate. We have closed The Farm today effective immediately for a full deep clean.

"We'd like to thank the health authorities and all our health heroes for the amazing work they are doing. Thank you to our community for your continued support during this time."

NSW's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters earlier that 166 people in the state have been contacted after visiting the venue on Sunday.

New venues on alert in Byron Bay

NSW Health have added new venues in Byron Bay to its list, after they were visited by an COVID-19 infected person.

If you have been to the following places at the listed times, you should immediately self-isolate and get tested regardless of symptoms and stay in isolation until a negative result is received:

Ghanda Clothing, 3/8 Lawson St, Byron Bay on Saturday, March 27 between 12pm and 12.15pm.
Tiger Lily, 3/17-21 Jonson St, Byron Bay on Saturday, March 27 between 12.25pm and 12.30pm.
Black Sheep, 46 Jonson St, Byron Bay on Saturday, March 27 between 12.30pm and 12.40pm.
Quiksilver, 2 Jonson St, Byron Bay on Saturday, March 27 between 12.40pm and 12.45pm.
Suffolk Bakery, Shop 1/2 Clifford St, Suffolk Park on Saturday, March 27 between 2.45pm and 3.15pm.
Park Hotel Bottle Shop, 223 Broken Head Rd, Suffolk Park on Saturday, March 27 between 7.30pm and 7.45pm.

New advice for returned travellers in NSW

Anyone who has been in greater Brisbane since March 20 and is now in NSW must comply with the same stay at home restrictions that apply to the Queensland capital regardless of their location, NSW Health have said in a new statement.

"This means anyone who has been to greater Brisbane since March 20 is required to stay at home, except for essential reasons that include shopping for food and supplies, exercise, work and medical care, under the Public Health Order," the statement read.

"People who have only transited through Brisbane Airport are excluded from these restrictions.

"Entry declaration forms were introduced on Saturday 27 March for people who are entering NSW after spending time in Brisbane City Council or Moreton Bay Regional Council areas in the previous 14 days.

"This requirement has now been extended to Greater Brisbane, which includes Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redland Local Government Areas and these declaration forms will be available on the Service NSW website later this evening."

Victoria, WA slam their borders shut

Victoria and Western Australia have joined South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania in changing their border arrangements with Queensland.

In Victoria, greater Brisbane will become a designated red zone from 6pm Victorian time tonight.

Victorian residents in a red zone can apply for a ‘red zone’ permit to return home. You must return straight home and self-quarantine for 14 days from the day you enter Victoria. For more info visit https://t.co/IPsVKkkdqW
[2/2]
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) March 29, 2021

In Western Australia, a hard border will be introduced from midnight to the whole of Queensland.

The changes mean travel from Queensland will no longer be permitted unless you are an exempt traveller.

In the wake of the escalating situation overnight, and following updated advice from the WA Chief Health Officer this morning, Western Australia will re-introduce a hard border for travel from Queensland. pic.twitter.com/mayuhLhSMb
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) March 29, 2021

Christian Porter issues statement after change of role

Christian Porter has called his service as Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations "a great honour and privilege", after Scott Morrison announced this afternoon he'd be replaced in both positions by Michaelia Cash.

"Accepting and understanding that commencing defamation proceedings against the ABC now requires my replacement as Attorney-General does not change anything in respect of the crucial principle that required me to instigate defamation proceedings," Mr Porter said in a statement.

"Given the false claims made about me by the ABC I had no alternative but to launch the defamation proceedings and I have no regrets about taking that course of action.

"The Federal Court action will allow for the truthfulness of the claims made by the ABC to be tested. I look forward to having these issues determined in a procedurally fair process with actual rules of evidence.

"I thank the Prime Minister for my appointment as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and congratulate Senator Michaelia Cash on her new role as Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations. I wish Senator Cash well in her new portfolios."

Tanker blocking Suez Canal freed

The massive tanker blocking the Suez Canal has been freed, according to reports.

Maritime services provider Inchcape told Bloomberg that salvage teams freed the MV Ever Given and it was floating again, although it was unclear how long it would take the re-open the waterway to traffic.

The ship became jammed about a week ago after veering off course and running aground in a sandstorm.

It forced Egypt to abruptly one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, impacting 10 per cent of global trade, as authorities try to dislodge it.

Some experts had warned the shutdown could last weeks, forcing ships to re-route around the southern tip of Africa, making their journeys significantly longer.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chief Osama Rabie told an Egyptian news channel the ship had moved from side to side for the first time late Saturday.

Bunnings, Westfield on venues alert list

Queensland’s latest coronavirus outbreak is continuing to cause headaches with the worsening cluster triggering a flurry of virus warnings for a long list of venues.

More than 1400 people in NSW have been told to isolate immediately after two positive cases of COVID-19 from Brisbane visited two popular venues in Byron Bay.

NSW's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 1321 people who signed into the Byron Bay Hotel on Friday March 26 between 2pm and 8.30pm have been contacted and told to isolate.

A further 166 people who visited The Farm in Byron Bay on Sunday March 28 between 8am to 9.30am have also been contacted.

Here is the full list of venues impacted:

QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS REGARDLESS OF RESULT

Saturday 20 March — Shinobi Ramen noodle shop (in Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre) — 12pm to 2.16pm
Saturday 20 March — Black Hops Brewery, East Brisbane — 12pm to 2pm
Sunday 21 March — Mamma’s Italian Restaurant, Redcliffe — 12.30pm to 3.10pm
Saturday 20 March — Green Beacon brewing Co, Teneriffe — 2pm to 3.12pm
Saturday 20 March — Eatons Hill Hotel — 3.44pm to 5.30pm
Monday 22 March — PCYC Pine Rivers, Bray Park — 7.16am to 8.10am
Friday 26 March — Spinnaker Park Cafe, Callemondah — 10.22am to 11.23am
Friday 26 March — Auckland House, Gladstone Central — 7.23pm to 9.30pm
Friday 27 March — Auckland House, Gladstone Central — 7.33am to 8.20am

GET TESTED AND SELF-ISOLATE IMMEDIATELY

Friday 26 March — Byron Beach Hotel — 7.15pm to 8.30pm
Sunday 28 March — The Farm Byron Bay — 8am to 9.30am

GET TESTED AND QUARANTINE UNTIL NEGATIVE RESULT

Saturday 20 March — Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre (any part of the shopping centre) — 12pm to 2.16pm
Saturday 20 March — Black Hops Brewery, East Brisbane — 2pm to 3pm
Saturday 20 March — Market Organics (store only), Newmarket — 2.45pm to 3pm
Saturday 20 March — Baskins-Robbins, Everton Park — 9.20pm to 9.25pm
Sunday 21 March — The Standard Market Company, Gasworks Plaza, Newstead — 9.50am to 10.20am
Sunday 21 March — Genki Mart, Alderley — 10.30am to 10.46am
Sunday 21 March — Liquorland, Dolphins Central Shopping Centre, Kippa-Ring — 4.40pm to 4.50pm
Monday 22 March — Bunnings Rothwell, Rothwell — 7.14am to 7.27am
Monday 22 March — Bunnings Stafford — 12.40pm to 12.50pm
Monday 22 March — Bunnings Lawnton — 3.15pm to 3.30pm
Monday 22 March — Strathpine Plaza Shopping Centre — 3.43pm to 3.49pm
Tuesday 23 March — Zambrero, Lawnton — 12.51pm to 12.55pm
Tuesday 23 March — Lawnton Fruit Market — 1.57pm to 2.05pm
Tuesday 23 March — Nellas Gourmet Tucker, Lawnton — 3.37pm to 3.47pm
Tuesday 23 March — Poolwerx Strathpine — 3.15pm to 3.27pm
Tuesday 23 March — Dan Murphy’s, Strathpine — 7.26pm to 7.36pm
Tuesday 23 March — Redcliffe Train Line – Kippa Ring to Lawnton – 7am to 8am
Tuesday 23 March — Redcliffe Train Line – Lawnton to Kippa Ring,Lawnton to Kippa Ring – 2pm to 3pm
Wednesday 24 March — Redcliffe Train Line – Lawnton to Kippa Ring, Lawnton to Kippa Ring, Lawnton to Kippa Ring – 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Wednesday 24 March — Lawton Country Markets — 2.36pm to 2.43pm
Thursday 25 March — BWS. Four Mile Creek Drive, Strathpine — 6.15pm to 6.30pm
Thursday 25 March — Aldi Stafford, Stafford City Shopping Centre — 8.30am to 8.45am
Thursday 25 March — Nundah Respiratory Clinic — 11.15am to 11.40am
Thursday 25 March — Ceres Pizza Café, Strathpine — 7pm to 7.58pm
Thursday 25 March — Gin Gin Bakery, Gin Gin — 1.26pm to 1.33pm
Thursday 25 March — Miriam Vale Star Roadhouse and Caravan Park, Miriam Vale — 2.35pm to 2.45pm
Thursday 25 March — Redcliffe Train Line – Lawnton to Kippa Ring, Lawnton to Kippa Ring — 5.45pm to 6.45pm
Friday 26 March — Coles, Stockland Gladstone, Gladstone Central — 12.09om to 12.33pm
Friday 26 March — Redcliffe Train Line – Lawnton to Kippa Ring, Lawnton to Kippa Ring — 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Friday 26 March — Woolworths, Peninsula Fair Shopping Centre, Kippa-Ring — 3pm to 3.20pm
Friday 26 March — Stockland Gladstone (including BWS), Gladstone — 4.46pm to 5pm
Friday 26 March — IGA Redcliffe, Redcliffe — 12.50pm to 12.55pm