The State Government today announced COVID-19 restrictions for the whole of Queensland after a growing cluster of community-transmitted cases was detected in Brisbane.
A lockdown in Greater Brisbane has been imposed for three days, ending 5pm Thursday, 1 April.
The Greater Brisbane region includes:
- Brisbane City Council;
- Logan City Council;
- Moreton Bay Regional Council;
- Ipswich City Council; and
- Redland City Council.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the three-day lockdown would be reviewed on Wednesday and allow Queensland Health to carry out vital contact tracing.
Restrictions in Bundaberg Region
Due to travel outside of Greater Brisbane of some cases during their infectious period, the below restrictions will apply to the rest of Queensland:
- Gatherings will be restricted to 30 people in homes
- Anyone attending food or beverage establishments such as restaurants, cafes and pubs must be seated.
- Personal visitors will not be allowed in aged care, hospitals, disability care and correctional facilities and there will be increased PPE requirements.
Queenslanders living outside of Greater Brisbane, and who have not been in Greater Brisbane at any time since 20 March, must carry a face mask at all times when they leave home, unless they have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:
- shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
- hospitals and aged care facilities
- hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (not required for patrons while seated; customer facing staff only)
- churches and places of worship
- libraries
- indoor recreational facilities and gym (except if doing strenuous exercise)
- indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)
- public transport, taxis and rideshare, and waiting places or queues for this transport
- airports and travelling on planes.
General advice
If you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people in an outdoor setting (eg – busy walkways and thoroughfares), it is strongly recommended to wear a mask.
Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.
Queensland Health has also issued a Public Health Alert for parts of Greater Brisbane and Central Queensland regions in relation to the latest cases. For the latest information related to these locations, visit the Queensland Health website.
Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue or loss of smell and/or taste.
To find your nearest testing clinic, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing
Updates to Bundaberg and Gin Gin fever clinics
There has been an increase in testing at local fever clinics after contract tracing revealed a confirmed COVID-19 case stopped in Gin Gin.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service said the positive case had visited the following Bundaberg Region locations on Thursday, 25 March:
- Gin Gin Male Public Toilet, opposite the Gin Gin Bakery, from 1.25pm to 1.26pm
- Gin Gin Bakery, 41 Mulgrave Street, from 1.26pm to 1.33pm
They had also visited the Miriam Vale Road Star Roadhouse – male toilet, from 2.35pm to 2.45pm.
“Staff from the Gin Gin Bakery and Miriam Vale Road Star Roadhouse have already been tested and entered into quarantine,” WHHS said on Facebook.
“Our team is currently contact tracing people who may have visited these locations during the contact time.
“If you believe you were at these locations around these times then please get tested immediately and quarantine.”
COVID testing capacity in Gin Gin has been increased by activating a mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic on the Gin Gin Hospital grounds.
“Our new clinic is open to members of the Gin Gin community who have symptoms, have been identified through contact tracing or have been to the Greater Brisbane area since March 20.”
The clinic is located at the rear of Gin Gin Hospital and can be accessed by turning off King street behind the medical centre and following the signs.
Hours are 8 am to 4.30 pm for the next three days.
“We ask people to remain in their vehicle for testing and to follow the directions from staff,” WHHS said.
Increased demand at the Bundaberg Fever Clinic, now located on the hospital campus, led WHHS to close the gates this afternoon.
“We still have hours of testing to do with drivers already lined up and will be unable to accommodate any new patients in the evening,” a statement said.
A large volume of traffic also meant WHHS was required to move the entrance to its new Bundaberg Hospital fever clinic.
“…there have been some traffic issues, particularly at Bundaberg where our team has decided to move the entry point to Hope Street (near Queens Park).
“We thank everyone today for their patience as they’ve waited at our various fever clinics across the Wide Bay.”
In anticipation of high test numbers continuing, WHHS said it would open the Bundaberg fever clinic from 6.30 am tomorrow.
For further information about local testing options, go to www.health.qld.gov.au/widebay/fever-clinics and keep up to date with announcements on the WHHS Facebook page.
