Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio urges residents to follow new COVID-19 restrictions as part of three-day Brisbane lockdown

Greater Brisbane is heading into a snap lockdown, with new rules that apply to Toowoomba as well. Here’s what Mayor Paul Antonio had to say on the restrictions.

TRC Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio has backed the State Government’s snap three-day COVID-19 lockdown, saying residents needed to follow the rules to avoid any further restrictions.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Monday the Greater Brisbane area would face major restrictions on movement, with the lockdown effective as of 5pm after four new cases were detected.

For the rest of Queensland, including Toowoomba, masks will be mandatory in indoor locations where social distancing is not possible, along with on public transport.

Cr Antonio said the State and Federal Governments had handled the COVID-19 pandemic well, urging locals to follow the health directives.

“I think we all understand now that COVID-19 is a tough virus to manage, and I’m thankful to the State and Federal Governments for the way they’ve done what they’ve done,” he said.

“Whatever has got to be done, has got to be done.

“There are a lot of things about viruses that the normal person doesn’t understand – they can morph and will morph.”

Cr Antonio also suggested tougher border restrictions to avoid further outbreaks, particularly since several COVID-19 vaccinations were now being rolled out globally.

“I think we should only let people in who have had the vaccine and been quarantined,” he said.

“We’ve seen (this issue) in other countries, I just was watching the issues they’re having in Spain, and we’re at risk.”