Three-day lockdown ends

COVERAGE UPDATE 1.45PM 

Mayor Peter Flannery says watching the weekend news made him proud to be mayor of the Moreton Bay Region. 

“Moreton Bay’s parks, beaches, roads and jetties were all empty with locals taking the restrictions seriously. In fact, the media were commenting on how well Moreton Bay did,” he says. 

“This is in stark contrast to images down south of people partying, flouting rules and taking unnecessary risks when there were community transmissions in New South Wales. 

“Because of your hard work the lockdown will end tonight as planned, and I want to sincerely thank you for your efforts.” 

But Mayor Flannery is reminding residents some restrictions remain in place until January 22 to keep everyone safe. 

“While we’re reopening all Council’s facilities, you will need to wear face masks inside in places like libraries, galleries, museums and our administration centres. Our staff will also be wearing masks,” he explains. 

“We have our first Council meeting of the year on January 20, and we’ll all be wearing masks as well as observing social distancing. With infection rates and fatality rates continuing to climb around the world, Australia is uniquely positioned as a safe haven from COVID. We will all need to work to keep it that way.”

COVERAGE UPDATE 12:30PM

Moreton Bay Regional Council venues including administration centres, libraries, art galleries and waste facilities will reopen tomorrow, January 12.

A council spokesman says visitors and venue staff will need to wear masks and observe social distancing, in line with State Government restrictions announced today.

Outdoor gyms and exercise equipment, skate parks, playgrounds, dog parks (dog off-leash areas) and BMX tracks remain open, as they have throughout the three-day lockdown.

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.

• Aged care residential facilities
• Disability accommodation services
• Hospitals

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 percent 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 22^nd 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.

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