Logan City and the Greater Brisbane area will be in a 3 day lockdown, but now there’s news everyone in the entire state of Queensland will be required to wear a mask during the lockdown period.
The decision follows confirmation of 10 new coronavirus cases were detected over a 24 hour period. Four of them were community transmission while the other six were from hotel quarantine.
The lockdown will mainly focus on the Logan City, Brisbane, Redlands, Ipswich and Moreton Bay council areas however, late Monday afternoon the state government announced that a mask mandate will be in place in all areas across the state.
Anyone who refuses to wear a mask could face an on-the-spot $200 fine by police, or a notice to appear in court.
Mask wearing will be mandatory on public transport, taxis, rideshare vehicles, in places of worship, hospitality venues, libraries and indoor recreational facilities that remain open outside the Greater Brisbane region, however, children under 12 will be exempt.
People can leave home for essential work, to look after a vulnerable person, for exercise and to buy food. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve take-away food only.
The Greater Brisbane lockdown means schools will close, except to vulnerable children, or the children of essential workers.
It’s been revealed, a nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital who’d been working in a COVID-19 ward, as well as her sister, are among the four new cases.
They had recently travelled to Byron Bay in Northern NSW while unknowingly infectious with the virus.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk admitted it was a tough decision with Easter and the school holidays on the horizon.
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed Queensland’s latest cluster was the highly contagious UK variant and said the lockdown was the “right thing to do based on the health advice”.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said mask wearing in the Greater Brisbane area would be mandatory, but has urged people not to confront people who are not wearing one, saying that should be left to the compliance officers.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Masks are required for Queensland (all of Queensland including Logan City and the Greater Brisbane area)
You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you 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, public transport, taxis and rideshare, including waiting areas and queues for this transport
It is strongly encouraged you wear a mask when outdoors if you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.
You can remove your masks to consume food or drink.
