Article courtesy of Moreton Daily
The latest COVID-19 lockdown will end for Moreton Bay Region residents at 6pm today but masks will remain an important defence against the highly contagious UK variant as will ongoing restrictions.
Here’s what you need to know …
You must wear a mask indoors in public spaces. These include
Restrictions for gatherings have eased.
There are no restrictions for businesses opening under a COVID-safe plan.
Indoor events/sessions within events
Outdoor events/sessions within events
Restrictions remain in place. Here’s where to find the latest information.
Health Minister and Redcliffe MP Yvette D’Ath says the community must remain vigilant in a bid to contain transmission of the UK strain of the virus, which is 70 times more contagious than the original strain.
“Globally this virus is getting worse,” she says.
“The World Health Organisation has reported for the third week in a row that we have seen four million cases a week.”
Ms D’Ath says indoor venues will be restricted to one person per 4sqm, while those deemed `small venues’ will be allowed one person for every 2sqm.
“We are now allowing people to leave their homes for any reason,” Ms D’Ath says.
“The new measure we have not had before is masks – the initiative we are putting in place with masks is very similar to Victoria and NSW.
Ms D’Ath says while masks will be compulsory at indoor venues, they will only need to be worn while entering, exiting or moving around outdoor venues, but not while seated.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says there were no new Coronavirus cases in Queensland overnight, with 18,904 people tested.
She praised people for complying with lockdown restrictions and testing, but says the community cannot relax yet, as contacts associated with the quarantine hotel cleaner continue to be traced.
“We still need to see out the remainder of the 14-day incubation period (linked to the cleaner case),” Ms Young says.
“We now have 370 contacts of the lady involved and 172 have had results back and they are negative.”
Ms Young says the mask rule allows more people to be inside venues compared with restrictions imposed in March last year.
“Masks are a game changer. We didn’t have masks back in March. We now have masks so we can be more confident.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath says hospitality workers will need to wear masks while they work.
“If we do everything we need to do, then come the 22nd of January we can go back to what we were before,” Ms D’Ath says.
“It’s really important that we all do our bit over the next 10 days.”
The latest COVID-19 lockdown will end for Moreton Bay Region residents at 6pm today.
Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk announced the end of the lockdown for Greater Brisbane this morning, saying it was a reward for three days of staying at home.
“It’s been absolutely, truly remarkable,” she says of the compliance of Greater Brisbane residents of the lockdown directive.
While lockdown restrictions will lift from 6pm, masks will remain mandatory until January 22.
Under the new rule, people leaving their homes must carry a mask with them.
While wearing a mask in private cars will no longer be mandatory, they must still be worn on public transport, in taxis and in ride share vehicles.
Masks must also be worn in shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets, churches, libraries, hospitals, aged care facilities and gyms.
Ms Palaszczuk says the Test match between Australia and India on Friday will go ahead, with The Gabba at 50 percent capacity.