Queensland reports two new local cases as mask wearing becomes mandatory

Another state is ‘on the verge’ of being plunged into lockdown after it was revealed a new positive case has the highly contagious Delta variant.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed Queensland is “on the verge” of lockdown after the state recorded two new local Covid-19 infections on Monday.

It has been revealed one of the new cases – a female miner – has been infected with the highly contagious Delta variant of the deadly virus, while the other case is linked to a Portuguese restaurant and tested positive while in quarantine.

The Premier said mask wearing would become mandatory from 1am Tuesday while the number of diners and visitors in homes was reduced.

Ms Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to actively monitor the escalating number of venues added to the exposure site list and to get tested if the most mild of symptoms appear.

“The next 24 to 48 hours are going to be very crucial in Queensland,” she told reporters on Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to keep an eye on the venues on the exposure list. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Health authorities introduced new restrictions on social gatherings and dining numbers from 1am on Tuesday as revelations a miner working in the Northern Territory transited through Brisbane Airport and travelled to the Sunshine Coast.

Mandatory mask wearing will come into force in Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset.

Social gatherings in homes will be capped to 30 people, weddings and funerals reduced to 100 attendees, diners must be seated to eat and drink, businesses and venues must return to one person per 4sq m rule inside and one person per 2sq m outside.

Only 20 people can dance at weddings but restrictions could be significantly ramped up if further infections are revealed.

When responding to a question of the likelihood of being plunged back into a lockdown, Ms Palaszczuk warned “we are on the verge”.

“This is a world pandemic and anything can happen at any time,” she said.

The state is on high alert after the Premier revealed the highly contagious Delta variant had made its way into the state.

Authorities are now scrambling to uncover how the fly-in, fly-out female mine worker from the Sunshine Coast contracted the variant.

Authorities have urged Queenslanders to get tested if any symptoms appear. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the fact the Delta variant had made it into Queensland was concerning, because it had been demonstrated to spread within “a matter of seconds and minutes”.

“It is highly contagious and we must take this seriously,” she said.

The miner, who was revealed as positive on Sunday afternoon, was infectious in the community with the concerning strain and was likely exposed while quarantining in proximity to international travellers at the Novotel Airport Brisbane.

The worker left the quarantine facility on a chartered flight to the NT mine.

She then later flew back to Queensland and was infectious in the community in Brisbane on Saturday before heading to the Sunshine Coast, where he tested positive on Sunday afternoon.

Access to the full list of exposure sites is available here.