August 2, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
Brisbane and 10 other LGAs have been locked down until 4pm Sunday August 8 after a hotel quarantine leak brought about seven locally acquired cases of COVID-19 between Thursday, when the first case, a Brisbane school student, tested positive, and Saturday. There are now 31 cases associated with the outbreak, including 13 announced this morning.
This morning the initial three-day lockdown, which was scheduled to end tomorrow at 4pm was extended until 4pm Sunday, with the state’s Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, saying “we desperately hope that will be sufficient” for contact tracers to mop up the outbreak and place everyone exposed to the virus into quarantine.
Non-essential businesses have been closed, and there are only four reasons to leave home, to shop for essential goods within 10km of home, to exercise, also within 10km, to attend essential work, education or childcare and to receive medical care, including getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Masks are required both indoors and outdoors in all public spaces.
The local government areas included in the lockdown are City of Brisbane, City of Gold Coast, City of Ipswich, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
The extension of the lockdown has also caused the cancellation of Ekka, the Royal Queensland Show, which was set to kick off on Saturday.