Easter holidays in chaos as three states rush to impose border restrictions on Queensland after ‘significant’ Covid spread – and Gladys Berejiklian begs millions to change travel plans
- Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania have introduced restrictions
- Tasmania imposed border restrictions on arrivals from five government areas
- Quarantine for Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands arrivals
- South Australia requires 14 days of self-isolation for Brisbane arrivals from 4pm
- Western Australia on Saturday ordered Queensland visitors to isolate for 14 days
Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania have all imposed restrictions on travellers from Queensland as the state battles a ‘significant’ Covid-19 outbreak.
Tasmania was the first to impose hard border restrictions on arrivals from five government areas on Monday morning just days before the Easter break.
Effective immediately, residents arriving into Tasmania from Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands will have to enter quarantine for two weeks.
South Australia has also declared Brisbane to be a hotspot and will require arrivals to undergo 14 days of self-isolation from 4pm on Monday.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked the state’s seven million residents to re-consider any travel plans to Queensland, but ruled out a hard border closure.
Shoppers at Woolworths in Newstead in inner-city Brisbane. Three states have imposed border restrictions on Queensland travellers
A health care worker is seen collecting information from motorists waiting in line to be COVID tested in Brisbane on Monday
On Saturday, WA Premier Mark McGowan announced all arrivals from Queensland would have to self-isolate for 14 days as part of a ‘soft’ border closure.
From 5pm on Monday, Brisbane will enter into a three-day lockdown after the four new local coronavirus cases were found amid an outbreak of the highly-contagious UK variant in Queensland.
Monday’s announcement brings the total number of cases in Brisbane cluster to seven, with six other infections found in hotel quarantine.
Three of the four new cases are close contacts of known cases, but those infected may have been out in the community – raising the risk more transmission may have occurred.
Two of the cases – a nurse and her sister – visited the popular tourist town of Byron Bay in northern NSW while infectious, sparking fears the virus has already spread interstate.
The siblings visited the tourist town from March 26 to March 28.
The snap lockdown in Greater Brisbane, including Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands, means pubs, restaurants and cafes will shut except for takeaway, with millions only allowed to leave home for essential reasons.
Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown from 5pm on Monday after four new cases of Covid-19
Shoppers line up outside a Woolworths store at Montague Markets West End in Brisbane on Monday
As part of the snap lockdown starting at 5pm on Monday evening, masks will be mandatory in public indoor settings across Greater Brisbane and schools will also be forced to close.
The only excuse to leave the home will be for essential work, for exercise, to buy essential supplies or for care and medical reasons.
Only two visitors will be allowed in the home under the new rules and restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway service only.
The UK strain of coronavirus – known as B117 – is believed to be at least 50 per cent more transmissable than other variants.