Panic buying hits southeast Qld ahead of lockdown after six Covid-19 cases

Despite authorities warning panic buying could spread any undetected virus through the community, southeast Queenslanders have flocked to the shops.

Despite an urgent warning from authorities of the health risks of panic buying ahead of southeast Queensland’s snap lockdown, chaotic scenes are appearing in supermarkets across the region.

Eleven local government areas – Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim – will be plunged into another snap lockdown from Saturday afternoon as health authorities race to quash the “rapidly spreading” Covid-19 outbreak they fear could have settled into the community.

The announcement came as the state recorded six new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Saturday, all linked to the 17-year-old who tested positive to the virus on Friday.

The millions of residents will only be allowed to leave home for four reasons: to purchase essentials, to provide care, to go to work or school if essential, and to access healthcare.

The panic buying has begun. Coles New Farm packed even though supermarkets will stay open during lockdown. @[e-mail]/MvG6HmZAd9

— Johnpaul Gonzo (@JohnpaulGonzo) July 31, 2021

Earlier, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said anyone partaking in panic buying could be further exacerbating the situation.

“We have been in contact with the supermarkets, they are all well supplied,” he said on Saturday morning.

Scenes of panic buying broke out across southeast Queensland after the announcement of a snap lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“So, anyone rushing stockpiling, it just makes the jobs of our supermarkets and our essential workers in those supermarkets even harder and more risky.”

Shoppers have taken to social media to report lines “out the door”, with some people reporting waits of up to 30 minutes for a register.

Despite supermarkets being open during the lockdown, people flocked to supermarkets on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Saturday’s new cases are the four family members of a girl whose positive test was announced on Friday, a medical student who tutors the girl, and a staff member from Ironside State School where one of the siblings attends.

They are all confirmed to have the Delta strain.

The source of the latest outbreak remains unclear, however chief health officer Jeannette Young said one of two recently returned travellers had likely given it to an unidentified mystery link who had then passed it on into the community, and to the medical student.

“I think that one of those two cases has led to transmission to someone – who I don’t know – which has then led to further transmission and eventually I think the most likely scenario is this medical student has acquired it,” she said.

“I don’t know how.”

The 11 local government areas of southeast Queensland will be plunged into a three day lockdown from Saturday afternoon. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

There had been mounting speculation ahead of the announcement on Saturday morning, exacerbated by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who remains in hotel quarantine, urging Queenslanders to tune in for a “very important press conference” by Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and chief health officer Jeannette Young.

Mr Miles said that as seen in other states, the only way to beat the Delta strain is “to move quickly, to be fast, and to be strong”.

“All of the governments of Australia now recognise that, when dealing with the Delta strain, the only way is to go hard and go early,” he said.

The snap lockdown, hoped to be just for three days, will be the strictest southeast Queensland has experienced. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

This snap lockdown will be the strictest lockdown southeast Queensland has experienced. Residents can only leave home to obtain essential goods, but only within 10km of your home; for essential work, school or child care (with masks to be compulsory at high schools); to exercise within 10km of your home; and for medical care.

The Indooroopilly State High School student had been infectious and out in the community since July 27, with dozens of exposure sites linked to the new cases expected to be announced on Saturday.

Southeast Queensland residents are being urged to get themselves vaccinated throughout the snap lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Dr Young said she suspects the medical student is the index case, but she still doesn’t have the direct link between this new cluster and its source.

“I suspect, although it is hard to know because of the very rapid transmission time frames, I suspect … she (the medical student) has taken it into that household,” Dr Young said.

“There are lots of places she’s been. We will find more exposure sites … I suspect there are going to be an enormous number of exposure sites all through Brisbane as well as probably the Sunshine Coast and further.

“We know that Delta is a particularly infectious strain.

“If anyone has any symptoms at all, this is the time you must come forward and get tested immediately.

“So for the next three days, I just ask everyone: Stay at home.”

Thousands of people from Indooroopilly State High School and Ironside State School will undergo 14 days quarantine.