Greater Brisbane three-day lockdown ends
Article courtesy of Moreton Daily
COVERAGE UPDATE 10:30AM
New restrictions at a glance
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 …
Masks
You must wear a mask indoors in public spaces. These include
- shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
- hospitals and aged care facilities
- churches and places of worship
- libraries
- indoor recreational facilities and gyms
- indoor workplaces (where you can’t socially distance)
- public transport, taxis and rideshare
- airports and travelling on planes
Gatherings
Restrictions for gatherings have eased.
- Up to 20 people in homes and public spaces. This number includes those who live with you.
- Weddings can have up to 100 attendees. No restriction on dancing.
- Funerals are allowed up to 100 attendees.
Businesses and venues
There are no restrictions for businesses opening under a COVID-safe plan.
- Restaurants and cafes can open for seated eating and drinking, no standing allowed
- All businesses may now have:
- one person per 4sqm indoors
- one person per 2sqm outdoors
- Businesses with a floor space less than 200sqm can have one person per 2sqm, up to 50 people at a time.
- Dancing is not allowed, except at weddings
- The seated capacity of outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres is 50 percent with a COVID-safe plan
- The seated capacity of indoor concert venues and theatres is 50 percent or one person per 4 square metres, whichever is greater, with a COVID-Safe plan
Events
Indoor events/sessions within events
- 500 people or less – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Checklist, no further approval needed
- 500 to 10,000 people – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by local public health units
- 10,000 people or more – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer
- Indoor concert venues/theatres - up to 50 percent seated capacity or one person per 4sqm (whichever is the greater), with a COVID Safe Plan
Outdoor events/sessions within events
- Fewer than 1000 people, eg community sport – no approval needed when following a COVID Safe Event Checklist
- 1000 to 10,000 people – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the local public health unit
- 10,000 people or more – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer
- Outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres: 50 per cent capacity with a COVID Safe Plan
Aged care, disability accommodation, hospitals
Restrictions remain in place. Here’s where to find the latest information.
COVERAGE UPDATE 10:00AM
Masks compulsory for indoor venues
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.
COVERAGE UPDATE 9:45AM
"Masks are a game changer"
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.”
COVERAGE UPDATE: 9:03AM
Lockdown lifted
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.
