Queensland lockdown extended until Sunday as state records 13 new local cases
Queensland’s lockdown has been extended by at least another five days after the state posted 13 new locally acquired cases.
Queensland’s lockdown has been extended until at least Sunday after the state posted 13 new locally acquired cases on Monday.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the three-day snap lockdown would “not be sufficient” after recording six cases, nine and then 13 in the past three days.
One of those cases was out for six days in the community while they were infectious.
“We’re advising southeast Queenslanders in the 11 local government areas that the lockdown will be extended until 4pm on Sunday,” Mr Miles said on Monday morning.
“That will make it an eight-day lockdown. And we desperately hope that that will be sufficient for our contact tracers to get (on top of the outbreak).”
The 11 local government areas of southeast Queensland were plunged into lockdown on Saturday.
Residents in those municipalities must only leave home for four essential reasons.
Mr Miles said there were too many people out in the community despite the strict stay-at-home orders and urged people to follow the rules.
“There‘s too many cars on the road in Brisbane at the moment – too many people out and about,” he said.
“Just because you worked in previous lockdowns, doesn’t mean that you should work through this lockdown.
“Please consider if it is absolutely necessary for you to work, for you to leave your home.”
Home learning will be in place for the entire week for Queensland’s state and private schools as the latest outbreak largely affects school communities.
“This is the first time that we’ve seen an outbreak like this one spreading in schools among students, teachers and parents,” Mr Miles said.
Ten of Monday’s cases were in the zero to nine age group, one was in the 10- 19 age group, one was in their twenties and three were in their thirties.
Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the Delta Covid-19 variant was “much more likely” to spread among younger people.
“Younger people are more at risk. And although they’re less likely to do particularly badly if they get infected, they’re less likely to die – they are more likely to transmit to other people,” she said.
Permitted reasons to leave home in Queensland are:
- Obtaining essential goods or services, including healthcare
- Exercising in your local area – it can only be within 10km of your home, and within 10km of your personal trainer’s home if you are exercising with a personal trainer
- Attending essential work or school and childcare for the children of essential workers or vulnerable children
- Assisting a vulnerable person or family member
- Obtaining a COVID-19 test or vaccination
These rules apply in the following local government areas:
- City of Brisbane
- City of Gold Coast
- City of Ipswich
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Logan City
- Moreton Bay Region
- Noosa Shire Council
- Redland City
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
- Somerset Regional Council
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council
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