Queensland Health authorities are scrambling to contain a growing coronavirus cluster, as millions of residents in Greater Brisbane officially enter lockdown.
As of 5:00pm today, people in five local government areas that make up Greater Brisbane — Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton and Redlands — are under strict stay-at-home orders under the snap three-day lockdown.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was extremely worried about the escalating situation.
"I didn't sleep last night, so I am very worried. I am very concerned," she said.
"We have done it before, we have got through this together and I'm sure that if everyone does the right thing we will be able to get through it."
Residents can only leave their homes for essential shopping, exercise in their local area, work or study which cannot be done from home and to provide care.
Across the state, masks are now mandatory outside the home, including in workplaces, on public transport and in rideshare services.
All Queenslanders must carry a mask at all times when they leave their home and wear one in indoor public places and outdoor public venues where social distancing is not possible.
The restrictions also apply to anyone who has visited Greater Brisbane since Saturday, March 20.
Schools will be closed from Tuesday, meaning the Easter holidays will begin early for thousands of students across the region.
ABC News: Lewi Hirvela
)The measures were introduced after health authorities revealed a COVID-19 cluster involving the highly contagious UK strain had grown to seven people.
Among them is a nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and her sister, who both visited Byron Bay during their infectious period.
Another one of the new cases recently travelled to Gladstone while infectious.
'Let's do it now and do it right'
The growing rate of community transmission has sparked a mammoth contact tracing effort, with Queensland Health issuing a long list of exposure sites stretching back to March 20.
Ms Palaszczuk said the strict measures were necessary to prevent further transmission and "avoid a longer lockdown".
"I know this is a really big call, I know it's very tough – we've got Easter coming up, we've got school holidays coming up," Ms Palaszczuk said.
The lockdown will stretch until at least 5:00pm on Thursday.
Health authorities will review the situation on Wednesday night.
ABC News: Dan Colasimone
)Elsewhere in the state, Queenslanders can only have 30 visitors at their homes, and visits to aged care, disability services, hospitals and prisons will be limited.
Queensland Health said it was not aware of any community transmission on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Toowoomba.
Other jurisdictions have moved quickly to declare Greater Brisbane and other areas, such as Toowoomba, a hot spot due to the level of movement between local government areas.
Despite assurances from authorities that grocery stores would remain open, supermarkets have been swamped with panic buyers.
"They were lined up halfway through the shop or more — people frustrated, people anxious not knowing what's going on," Ashgrove shopper Allen Newton said.
It comes as Woolworths introduced purchase limits on some items after a spike in demand.
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2021-03-29 06:16:33Z
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