Intimate partner visits deemed ‘not essential’ under Qld lockdown

Southeast Queenslanders have been warned one exemption given in previous lockdowns will not be tolerated this time around.

Southeast Queenslanders who don’t live with their intimate partner have been given an ultimatum by police: shack up, or face not seeing one another during the lockdown.

The 11 local government areas of southeast Queensland are under tight stay-at-home orders until at least Sunday, with people only allowed to leave their home for four key reasons – to shop for essential goods, to work or go to school if unable to do so from home, to access or provide care (including vaccines), and to exercise within 10km of the home.

And, unlike previous lockdowns, absolutely no visitors are allowed at private residences unless it is for compassionate or care grounds, ruling out intimate partner visits.

People wanting to see their intimate partner during the lockdown have been told the only way to do so is to move in together for the duration of it Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said there was only one way for people to see their partners if they didn’t usually live together.

“That’s a difficult one. The simple advice is that if you are going to reside together for duration of lockdown, it would be okay to go there and stay there,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

“If you want to keep visiting regularly, that’s not within the exemptions at the moment.”

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski cleared up confusion on morning radio on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

In New South Wales, intimate partner visits were initially not allowed under the strict lockdown, but authorities eventually granted permission. Only last week was a singles bubble introduced.

In Queensland, the only time a person can interact with a friend or family member that they do not normally live with is to exercise outdoors within a 10km radius.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said because Delta was different, the rules this lockdown needed to be different. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said because Delta was different, the rules needed to be different.

“The NSW outbreak has seen significant transmission inside and between households,” she wrote in the Courier Mail this week.

“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.

“ … I know this lockdown is a huge disruption. I am so sorry for that. Please know that I am fighting hard to prevent something so much worse.”