South-east Queensland will be under strict lockdown for the pandemic, beginning at 4pm Saturday after six cases of Covid-19 were reported.Stay-at-home orders are available in 11 South-East local governments, including Brisbane City and Gold Coast.Steven Miles, the deputy premier, stated that the lockdown was necessary because of the transmissibility and severity of the Delta strain. Authorities warned there would be a large number of people exposed to this outbreak.The outbreak may be linked to a hotel quarantine leak.Miles stated that the chief medical officer advised us and that the premier had ordered us to move quickly and follow all restrictions. We must work hard and start early.This will be our strictest lockdown to date.The lockdown will prevent people living in affected LGAs from having visitors and will force the closure of non-essential businesses. Only take-out will be allowed at hospitality venues.For those who leave home to shop or exercise, a 10km radius restriction will be in effect. High school students and staff have been required to wear masks for the first time in Queensland.Only those under lockdown are allowed to leave their home.To purchase essential goods like groceries and medicationFor essential work, go to school or caretakerExercise with no more than one person from the same householdTo provide health care for another personGet vaccinated and tested.Six new cases were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in Queensland's current outbreak to nine.The Saturday cases are related to a 17 year-old Indooroopilly State High School student, who tested positive on Thursday.Two of the students' siblings, their parents, and two other children have also been infected. A medical student who is her tutor has also been affected. Ironside state school is the sixth victim. One of the siblings is also a teacher.Jeannette Young (chief health officer) stated that she expects a large number of exposure sites throughout Brisbane, and possibly as far out as the Sunshine Coast.Young stated that the medical student had been to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital at the University of Queensland and the Translational Research Institute at Princess Alexandra Hospital.Young added that she also has a sibling who works at a hospital. We are working to get through all of them.During the lockdown, schools and childcare will be closed to parents of critical workers.Young claimed that genome sequencing indicated a leakage from hotel quarantine.She said that although I don't know the exact link between the two cases and the seven new cases, I do know that the transmission occurred through whole genome sequencing.Miles stated that the government would continue to support businesses, but that the lockdown was necessary in order to prevent further damage to the economy.He said that we know that this is the best way for businesses and people to recover and the best way of keeping our economy running.We also recognize that the lockdown came not too long after the previous one. Therefore, we will be seeking to put in place a compensation package for this lockdown. We are working on the details.Brisbane's last lockdown was only lifted at the beginning of July.The Saturday lockdown occurred just a day after the national cabinet had agreed to short, severe lockdowns in order to fight the Delta strain.Miles stated that we have learned from other states' experiences that moving fast, being strong and quick is the best way to beat the Delta strain. This is the national consensus.Miles stated that he hoped the lockdown would not last too long.He stated that it is our intention to have a brief lockdown so that we can manage this outbreak in a matter of days.He also advised residents to avoid panic buying.He said that grocery stores will remain open during the lockdown. Don't rush to buy essential items. Essential items can be purchased at your home. Do not rush to the grocery store.People who live outside the 10 km radius of a supermarket are not eligible to travel beyond their travel limit in order to shop.The lockdown affected 11 LGAs: Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast; Ipswich. Logan City; Logan City. Noosa Shire. Redland City. Scenic Rim. Somerset. Sunshine Coast.Following the lockdown announcement, three AFL games scheduled for Queensland this weekend were postponed. The lockdown announcement also means that the St George Illawarras NRL clash against South Sydney, which was scheduled to be played in Rockhampton at 3pm on Saturday, will be rescheduled.Three games for Super Netball are also in trouble. They were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
