Coronavirus Qld: Greater Brisbane lockdown throws Easter holiday plans into chaos

States are scrambling to close their borders after an outbreak in Queensland put the state into lockdown. Here’s where you can and can’t go this Easter.

Millions of Australians have had their Easter holiday plans thrown into chaos with Brisbane’s snap lockdown wreaking havoc on an already struggling Queensland tourism sector.

Most states have slammed their borders shut to Greater Brisbane after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asked for it to be declared a hotspot amid a ‘worrying’ outbreak of the highly infectious UK-strain of COVID-19.

South Australia introduced a hard border with Greater Brisbane from 4pm today with only residents of South Australia, essential workers and people moving permanently to the state permitted to enter from the hotspot. They will have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.

The ACT and Tasmania have also declared greater Brisbane a coronavirus hotspot along with WA and Victoria which have introduced a hard border.

From 6pm today, people who have flown to the ACT from greater Brisbane between March 11 and March 14, are advised to get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Travellers who have arrived from greater Brisbane from March 15 onward, need to self-isolate until at least 6pm on April 1. This could be extended to 14 days.

In Tasmania, anyone who has been in Greater Brisbane in the 14 days prior to arrival in Tasmania will be banned from entering, unless approved as an essential traveller.

Western Australia will introduce a hard border with Queensland from midnight, labelling the state a “medium risk” following the “escalating situation” with its COVID-19 outbreak.

Under the changes, travel from Queensland will no longer be allowed unless you are an exempt traveller.

While parts of Queensland remain open to visitors, those planning an Easter break to Greater Brisbane have had their holidays thrown into chaos.

Victoria has declared Greater Brisbane a red zone under Victoria’s travel permit system as of 6pm Victorian time on Monday.

A red zone means non-Victorian residents are not allowed to enter Victoria without an exception, specified worker permit, transit permit, freight worker permit, or exemption.

Victorian residents in Greater Brisbane can apply for a ‘red zone’ permit to return home, but must quarantine for 14 days as soon as they arrive.

One in seven people were expected to travel to the Sunshine State over the next month.

The Tourism and Events Queensland data predicted more than 3.5 million Australians would make their way across the border, injecting $1bn into the economy.

But holiday plans are now up in the air after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday announced Greater Brisbane would enter a snap, three-day lockdown from 5pm.

The state recorded an alarming 10 new cases in the 24 hours to Monday morning.

While six were acquired overseas, four were the result of community transmission and were all the highly contagious UK variant.

Two of the cases are linked to the latest cluster, but health authorities are scrambling to work out how two other people contracted the virus.

Ms Palaszczuk said her government had declared Greater Brisbane a hotspot and urged premiers from other states across the country to do the same thing.

Queenslanders and people returning home to NSW are still permitted to enter the state, provided they have not visited one of the venues exposed to COVID-19.

Anyone trying to enter the state who has been in the Greater Brisbane area from March 27 is also required to complete a declaration form.

Brisbane and the surrounding regions were expecting a bumper Easter crowd. Picture: Supplied

The announcement of a lockdown has come as a huge blow to the tourism industry.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the lockdown was a ‘heartbreaking and devastating’ blow for local tourism operators and pleaded with interstate holidaymakers not to cancel their bookings.

Ms O’Callaghan said the Easter holidays were shaping as ‘critical’ for the industry’s recovery from COVID-19 and operators now feared another hit if the lockdown is extended.

“Obviously this is heartbreaking for our industry and a devastating time,” she said.

“But we’ve been down this path before and we’re putting our confidence behind the Queensland health system and their contact tracing.

“We’re hoping to get through this swiftly and that the lockdown will only last three days and travel restrictions will be lifted in time for Easter.

“We’re pleading with all of our visitors to keep their bookings at this stage.”

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said his region faced a ‘significant impact’ from the lockdown.

He said the Coast was enjoying more direct flights than it had pre-pandemic – thanks in part to the Federal Government’s recent half-price airfare deal – but the lockdown threatened to smash traveller confidence.

Mr Stoeckel said most of the North Coast’s visitors also came from the Brisbane region.

“The Brisbane lockdown will have a significant impact on the Sunshine Coast’s tourism industry, as its timing comes in the lead up to our peak Easter holiday period,” he said.

“Operators across the Sunshine Coast had secured strong bookings for this period, with the majority of bookings from the Greater Brisbane market.

“The announcement may also impact visitor confidence from interstate markets for the upcoming break as well.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczcuk to ‘not overreact’ when it came to considering whether to extend the lockdown to Easter in what looms as a potential hammer blow for Glitter Strip tourism operators.

“Nationally, the vaccine program is ramping up across Australia. Further, tens of thousands of small business operators are already nervous as they are about to experience life without JobKeeper support,” Cr Tate said.

“While I appreciate that it is a balancing act to protect public health, and minimise economic impact, I hope the three-day lockdown gives enough certainty that travel restrictions can be eased before the Easter break.’’

The Mayor said Brisbane residents needed to ‘act swiftly’ so the lockdown was not extended.

Originally published as Coronavirus Qld: Greater Brisbane lockdown throws Easter holiday plans into chaos